Andrew Strauss backing Kevin Pietersen to come good against Pakistan

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Thanks to the mercurial middle-order batsman's absence from the one-day international series against Bangladesh, he has had no cricket since the previous 50-over assignment against Australia.

Short of runs in those five matches, Pietersen was released to play for his county in a 40-over fixture to aid his preparation for the four-match npower Test series set to get under way against Pakistan at Trent Bridge today.

But Hampshire were not on message to help a player who is to leave them, probably in favour of a London county, at the end of this summer and did not give him the desired playing time.

England captain Strauss appears to see both sides of the story.

"For counties generally, it's always an issue," he said.

"They have their squad they have built up without the England players, and when the England player comes up it is disruptive in one way or another."

On principle, Strauss believes counties should consider England's success is important for them too - but he does accept the manner of Pietersen's departure from the Rose Bowl may have been a complicating factor in this instance.

"I implore the counties to realise the importance of a good, strong England team - and even though temporarily that might be difficult, it's helping both England cricket and indirectly those counties as well.

"In that sense I was disappointed - although I can understand their reticence, given KP's comments about what he planned to do in the future."

Strauss knows, though, that he can rely on Pietersen to have himself in the best possible shape - even without match practice.

"I'm not concerned particularly about his lack of cricket.

"He is a guy who spends a lot of time in the nets - and for someone like him, being in the right state of mind mentally is as important as anything.

"He's in a good state of mind; he has had a good rest; he has the bit between his teeth - and I think he wants to come out and prove himself again. I think he'll have a really good series."