Star batsman Kevin Pietersen insists he is not worried about his recent poor form for England.
Pietersen, who burst onto the international scene with a flurry of big scores in 2005, has failed to pass 50 in his last 17 one-day international innings for England, the last being back in November 2008 when he scored 111 not out as captain against India in Cuttack.
That has prompted some within in the game, including former England batsman Graham Thorpe, to question the long-term future of the South-African born star's place in the side.
Pietersen, who was upstaged by man of the series Eoin Morgan in England's 3-2 win over Australia, was left out of the squad which beat Bangladesh 2-1 recently in order to rest and recover from a minor thigh injury.
The 30-year-old, who recently became a father for the first time, has enjoyed spending time with his family over the last 10 days, and has shrugged off suggestions that he will not be able to bounce back from his recent poor performances for his country.
He said: "I'm not worried about my form. It happens to every single player. It's difficult when you play all three forms of the game to just keep on going and going and going.
"I don't know if there's a big score for me around the corner. If it happens it happens. I'm not too fussed. I'm not losing any sleep over it .
"This rest has come at a really good time to try and get myself sorted
"I have absolutely loved the time off. I have a brand new child at home and spending time with him has been priceless. The injury is fine. There's no problem with that whatsoever. I will be fit and raring to go for the Pakistan series."
England's Ashes win last summer, their ODI series victory, and May's ICC World Twenty20 triumph over the Australians have led to increased hope that Andrew Strauss' team will be able to retain the famous urn with victory Down Under this winter.
Australia legend Shane Warne has suggested that Strauss' team could have the edge over their old enemy in the series but Pietersen reckons England's recent triumphs will count for nothing when the two sides resume hostilities in Brisbane in November.
"I don't think that the one-day series win and the Twenty20 win will have any effect at all on the Ashes," said the Hampshire batsman.
"The only thing we can take out of those two series is that we know a bit more about their batsmen and bowlers and their fielding positions.
"The Australians are fantastic cricketers. They are tough human beings that will never ever give up so it doesn't matter what the team is like. The warm-up games going in to the first match will be tough because the state cricketers will want to beat England."
Pietersen will now spend another week resting before resuming training ahead of England's four-Test series against Pakistan, which begins at Trent Bridge on July 29.
The Pietermaritzburg-born batsman could return to his current county Hampshire in a bid to get some match practice before the first Test.
"If Hampshire have a couple of games then I could turn out for them," he added. "I'll have to have a look at the fixtures first but I'd love to. I love playing for Hampshire. It's a great day out and they are a great bunch of guys down there."
Pietersen is expected to join either Surrey or Middlesex when his contract expires at Hampshire at the end of the season.
Middlesex director of cricket Angus Fraser is hopeful of luring Pietersen to Lord's but he is not concerned about where he will be playing county cricket next season.
"I actually haven't got a clue where I'll be next season. I don't deal with that kind of thing, my agent does," Pietersen said.
"It's nice of Angus to say he's interested in signing me. Middlesex is close to home. I'm definitely looking at a London club because I live in London, I do all my training in London. I do all my rehab in London, but it's the last thing I'm worried about at the moment."
:: Kevin Pietersen is the Brylcreem Boy and face of their new range, which includes new Cream, Clay and Extreme Gel.
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