The England opener Adam Lyth has been identified as the weak link in Alastair Cook’s side by former batsman Kevin Pietersen.
Lyth, who scored a century in the second Test match of his career against New Zealand in May but has since struggled for form, will retain his place at the top of the order for the fourth Test, which begins at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
The Yorkshireman has a top score of just 37 from his six Ashes innings so far and Pietersen, who attended the funeral of his mentor Clive Rice in Johannesburg on Tuesday, believes that is creating pressure on the rest of England’s batsmen.
“Adam Lyth is finding out the difference between Test cricket and county cricket,” Pietersen said in his blog for bookmakers Paddy Power. “It’s a huge step up and you don’t get as many loose deliveries as you would at county level. He needs to be busier at the crease.
“It looks like he could get out on every single ball. He’s got to be positive and look to score, not to stand around and push and prod at deliveries. Losing one of your openers cheaply puts huge pressure on the middle order.”
With Jimmy Anderson absent with a side strain, England will hand Mark Wood the opportunity to replace him but Pietersen admitted losing the side’s senior bowler was a major blow to their hopes of regaining the Ashes.
“Jimmy Anderson’s absence makes a huge difference,” Pietersen said. “What he did in the first innings at Edgbaston shows why. It gives the Aussies a psychological lift. Knowing they don’t have to face the skill and movement of Anderson’s bowling at the start of an innings is a huge boost.
“Any batsman, coming to England, facing Jimmy on an overcast day and on a green wicket would be worried about facing him. He’s world class. Aside from the skill and the wickets he takes, Jimmy energises the team.”
Stuart Broad will lead the England pace attack in Anderson’s absence and Steven Finn, rejuvenated after taking eight wickets at Edgbaston, the fit-again Wood and Ben Stokes will support him.
“England’s bowling is still strong,” Pietersen said. “Steve Finn was excellent in the last Test, Stuart Broad has had an excellent series and Mark Wood has had a promising start to his Test career. I like that mix of bowling.”
