Pietersen must change, says Maynard

Kevin Pietersen has looked completely at sea in the flat, dry conditions of Pakistan © Getty Images

Matthew Maynard, the England batting coach, intends to speak to the likes of Kevin Pietersen about the importance of building an innings when he arrives in Pakistan.

Maynard has been working with the National Academy squad at Loughborough but is due to link up with the senior party ahead of the second Test at Faisalabad which begins on November 20. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Maynard, the former England and Glamorgan batsman, had this to say: "He [Pietersen] has got to realise and work out the hardest thing to do is get to 20. Once he does that and starts to get 20s and set small objectives he'll be all right. That's what I'll be telling him."

England slipped to a 22-run defeat in the first Test at Multan after a batting collapse hastened by some rash shots. Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff were particularly blameworthy - both fell to ungainly shots - as England were bowled out for 175 in their second innings. Pietersen's dismissals were in sharp contrast to his Ashes heroics against Australia in the summer - his 158 in the final Test at the Oval was a modern classic.

Maynard, however, believes that his aggressive approach does not suit the conditions in Pakistan, where the pitches make for more attritional contests. "They have got to learn to play different styles of bowling and different conditions," Maynard said, but also added that there was no lack of effort on the part of the players. "We give all the guys an optional net. In days gone by one or two might rock up but now everyone rocks up. You have to tell people to rest."