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Australia's batting is fragile: Pietersen

Former England captain warns Australia of 'downward spiral' that often comes when trailing during a Test tour

Kevin Pietersen has called on his former teammates to feed off the perceived negativity surrounding the Australian team and push on to a series-clinching win at Trent Bridge this week.

The 35-year-old says Australia's batting line-up is "as fragile as any I have ever seen before" and says his previous experience of losing Ashes campaigns has led him to believe that the tourists could be on a "downward spiral that is impossible to get off".

Like most cricket pundits and fans around the world, Pietersen's thoughts on the Ashes have changed dramatically in the wake of England's crushing victory at Edgbaston.

The former England captain had used Australia's big win at Lord's a fortnight ago to again lament his absence from the Test arena and inability to help rectify the "huge issues" with England's top order.

But such is the incredibly unpredictable nature of this series, Pietersen has this week instead heaped praise on the new management of the England team for instilling a confidence and freedom that he says was missing under previous administrations.

And he's warned the Australians that coming from behind in an Ashes series can be an extremely difficult task, as England discovered during their 5-0 series losses in 2006-07 and 2013-14.

"This is dangerous territory for Australia," Pietersen wrote in UK-based newspaper The Telegraph.

"When you are behind at the back end of an Ashes series you can easily end up on a downward spiral that is impossible to get off.

"Guys are tired because they have been on the road for a long time. Towards the end of a series that starts to get at you. Stories start to creep out that there is unrest in the camp.

"England need to feed off that and be verbally engaged with what they do this week and put pressure on the Australians."

Watch: Australia arrive in Nottingham for crucial fourth Test

Australia's batting has come in for heavy criticism following the loss in Birmingham, particularly the middle order that contributed a total of just 50 runs from a combined eight innings.

The absence of Jimmy Anderson from the fourth Test, which starts on Thursday, due to a side injury could be the stroke of good fortune Australia need to turn the series around, according to Pietersen.

"This Australian batting order is as fragile as any I have ever seen before," he wrote.

"Too many top players are out form. Michael Clarke needs runs. He has to make a score or else who knows what will happen to him.

"Chris Rogers has experience playing domestic cricket over here so he understands how to bat in these conditions. But the rest do not have that experience.

"David Warner has made a couple of scores in the second innings. But you have to make big runs in the first innings to put pressure on England to win games."

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