KP: Stokes 'devaluing his wicket' | Bairstow in batting nirvana'

Kevin Pietersen believes England captain Ben Stokes is "devaluing his wicket" and has urged him to follow the lead of Jonny Bairstow, a man Mark Butcher says is experiencing "batting nirvana".

Stokes was dropped twice before being caught at mid-off for a skittish 25 on day three of the LV=Insurance fifth Test against India at Edgbaston as he played another entertaining but fleeting knock.

The left-hander has fallen in similar fashion throughout the summer, looking to take the game to the opposition as he lives the attacking mantra he and coach Brendon McCullum have championed.

Stokes' exit this time left England 149-6 in reply to India's 416 all out before Bairstow's third hundred in four innings, a 140-ball 106, eventually propelled the hosts to 284 all out.

Former England batter Pietersen told Sky Sports: "I was watching Stokes in that little passage of play when he ran down the wicket and slogged the ball straight into the air a few times. It was reckless batting, it was not defending your wicket, not protecting the value of your wicket.

"Test match hundreds are valuable commodities, they mean a hell of a lot because of the stress, tension, patience and discipline that goes into them. That devaluing of his wicket is something I think may not be a good thing."

"I would tell Ben that he doesn't need to try and prove a point by being ultra-aggressive. The bowler needs to be bowling his best deliveries in order to get Stokes out. At the moment, I see Stokes trying to command authority by running at bowlers.

"He doesn't need to lose his head and slog the ball up into the air when England are in strife. Stokes can stand still and do what Bairstow is doing. I wouldn't tell him at all not to go after the bowlers but please