KP: Lyth looks like he doesn’t belong
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has criticised England opener Adam Lyth's performances in the Ashes so far, saying the Yorkshireman looks unsettled and likely to get out with every ball.
Lyth has top-scored with 37 in the series so far, and is averaging less than 13 over three Tests. Pietersen questioned whether Lyth was capable of making the step up to international cricket, despite Lyth having scored a ton in his second Test.
Pietersen said of Lyth being retained for Trent Bridge: "Like several others before him, Adam Lyth is finding out the difference between Test cricket and County cricket.
"It's a huge step up and you don't get as many loose deliveries. He needs to be busier at the crease, occupy it more and look like he owns it and belongs there.
"At the moment, it looks like he's there to defend. It looks like he could get out on every single ball. That's no way to be at the top of the order."
But skipper and opening partner Alastair Cook backed Lyth, as expected, saying: "He hasn't scored the runs he would have liked but in the last game his method looked a lot more solid even if he didn't get the runs.
"But I do believe there is a big score around the corner."
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