Ashes 2017/18: England squad to face Australia is an absolute joke – Kevin Pietersen

England will be hoping to defend the Ashes in Australia this winter under the captaincy of Joe Root.

Series wins over the West Indies and South Africa would appear to stand England in good stead but question marks remain about the top-order.

Keaton Jennings and Mark Stoneman have both been found wanting and England also have problems at No 3 and No 5.

And former batsman Kevin Pietersen is concerned about the lack of quality in the squad with just two months to go until the series gets under way.

“If Root gets injured or doesn’t score runs, they’d pick [Gary] Ballance again,” Pietersen told The Times.

“I mean it is a joke, it is an absolute joke the batsmen that they have in that set-up.”

And Pietersen thinks for England to have any hope of retaining the Ashes, Root and Alastair Cook must play out of their skin.

“The Australian side is not amazing but in Australia they are a very good side,” he added.

“If their fast-bowling quartet are fit and firing and either Cook or Root has a bad tour, there will be all sorts of strife. 

“[Jimmy] Anderson didn’t have a good tour there last time, not at all. 

“He was getting hit for sixes in Perth by [George] Bailey and [Shane] Watson almost every ball. 

“I fear that from an England point of view, it is going to be a long tour.”