Pietersen loss 'massive' for England - Ponting

Ricky Ponting has said the absence of Kevin Pietersen for the rest of the series will be a major positive for Australia as they aim to recover from their 1-0 deficit. Ponting believes without Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff will face enormous pressure to carry the England side to a series victory.

"He [Pietersen] is a massive loss," Ponting told the Australian. "He's such an x-factor in their side, the way he can score quickly and the ability he has to put the bowlers on the back foot by putting extra pressure on them.

"I think Pietersen does leave a pretty big hole in their batting. For us it will be a real positive. It probably puts a bit more pressure on Flintoff to perform. He has to stand up big time now."

Ponting said he had been pleased with how his bowlers had tackled Pietersen in the first two Tests, when he looked well below his best form. He also said Australia might be able to capitalise on any nerves shown by Pietersen's replacement, Ian Bell, on his return to the side at Edgbaston.

"If you look at the way we've bowled to [Pietersen] and the way he's played, he's been one of the England batsmen we've been able to put the most pressure on," Ponting said. "Ben Hilfenhaus in particular has bowled beautifully to him.

"Now England has a much more sound, technically correct, but scratchy player like Bell. If we happen to get him in at the right time he's a pretty nervous sort of bloke as well."