Michael Vaughan asks out-of-form Kevin Pietersen to return to basics

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has asked out of form batsman Kevin Pietersen to clear his "cluttered" mind and return to basics and his scoring ways.

Pietersen has made just 69 runs in seven innings on the tour of Bangladesh, a major worry before the start of the first Test on Friday.

Vaughan is confident the flamboyant batsman will come good. "It's the first time in his career he's gone through this kind of patch, so he's in new territory mentally."

"For those who have been in it and got out of it, they know it comes right with hard work and a little bit of luck. You just have to get your basics right," The Sun quoted Vaughan, as saying.

"The one thing about Kevin is he will attack and that's great, that's the best option for Kevin Pietersen.

"But you still have to be able to defend against spinners, particularly in Bangladesh. Maybe he's thinking too much, his mind is cluttered with Should I defend, should I attack," Vaughan said.

"If he hammers home the basics well and just fights for a bit he will be fine," he added.