Strauss backs 'out of sorts' Cook and Pietersen to fire

London, Aug 6(ANI): England skipper Andrew Strauss is convinced that his star batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook will recapture their form to silence critics.

Going into today's second Test match against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Pietersen has not scored a century in any form of cricket for 17 months, while Cook boasts just 79 runs in his last five Test innings.

"Where batsmen are concerned, you have to take a long-term view. You have to appreciate people will have the odd bad trot. It's the nature of the beast," The Sun quoted Strauss, as saying.

"KP has had a bit of a dip of late, but players of that quality come through. He's been really buoyant this week and putting in the hard work. Results will come," he added.

Strauss is similarly calm over Cook's situation.

"As far as Cook goes, it was only a few Tests ago that he scored a hundred against Bangladesh and he played well in South Africa last winter. He's a quality performer and fantastic rock at the head of our order," he added. (ANI)