England ease the pressure on out-of-form Kevin Pietersen

Before the final Test of this npower series, the start of which was delayed this morning by further rain, Pietersen had not scored a hundred for 25 innings and passed 50 only once in five knocks in the first three Tests. And even that, a scratchy 80 at Edgbaston, owed more to Pakistan's inept catching than the quality of his batting.

The first Ashes Test in Brisbane is only three months away and, while dropping Pietersen seems unthinkable, his place will become vulnerable if he continues to bat with such a lack of confidence.

The 30-year-old has retreated into his shell in Tests this summer, to such an extent that the extravagant strokes that characterised his entry into five-day cricket are now rarely seen.

But the England captain retains enough faith in Pietersen's natural ability to be convinced that he will soon prosper once more.

Strauss said: "KP will be back. Clearly he wants to be performing and performing well.

"He'll be putting pressure on himself to do that, but you don't get too carried away when things are going well and you don't get too down when they are going badly. You will come back because you're a good player.

"One thing it is important to realise is that a lot of the pressure that comes on a batsman comes from outside the group. Within it we had every confidence that Alastair Cook would come right and he did that.

"The same applies to KP. If there is pressure it is not coming from within the group and he will come right."

Pietersen is not the only man in need of runs. With a top score of 53 not out in the series, Strauss is also overdue a big score. Until recently, his poor form had been hidden behind the team's success but with England losing at The Oval and requiring at least a draw at Lord's to ensure victory in the series, the opener's game will come under scrutiny during the next five days.

And his captaincy was also questioned at The Oval, particularly his field placings on the fourth day when Pakistan were chasing a meagre target of 148 for victory.

But Strauss said: "As soon as you start questioning yourself, it is a dangerous place. I'm not trying to prove myself as a captain. I'm just doing what I think is right.

"I don't know if I have improved as a captain since I took the job [in January 2009]. You don't second-guess yourself. You go with your convictions, and it is for other people to judge whether or not your ideas are good.

"As for my batting, I have been pretty happy with the way it has been going, and I have made useful contributions, but I have not managed to reach three figures. I'd like to change that during the Lord's Test."

Unfortunately for Pietersen and Strauss, conditions at Lord's over the next few days are likely to favour the bowlers again.