Fletcher chats with Pietersen about form

Pietersen has endured a torrid time with bat in hand since arriving on the subcontinent, managing just just 69 runs in seven innings.

It is a poor return for one of the world's premier batsmen, who has particularly struggled against left-arm spin.

Fletcher, who handed Pietersen his England debut back in 2005, has backed the 29-year-old to regain his form, saying his willingness to tackle his problems "head-on" would ensure a big score is not far away.

"He called me at the end of the one-day series and we had a long chat about his game. We discussed certain technical points," Fletcher wrote in his column in the Guardian.

"All players have weaknesses. One of the things that impressed me most about Pietersen when I worked with him was that where a lot of people run away from their problems, he has always been willing to meet them head-on.

"If he feels that facing left-arm spin is an area of concern, then he will practise playing that style of bowling over and again in the nets.

"If he does have a flaw in his technique he can still rely on his decision-making, his judgment of how or whether to play a delivery, to see him through."

Fletcher added that despite Pietersen's brash style, the right-hander needed to establish himself at the crease if he was to turn his fortunes around in the first Test against Bangladesh, which starts in Chittagong on Friday.

"There is a perception that Pietersen is an exciting, attacking player and because of that people expect him to go out there in Test cricket and hit the ball from the start," he added.