Pietersen found himself singled out by some pundits for two poor dismissals in the Test series opener at Cardiff, one an ugly-looking sweep to Nathan Hauritz and the other a misjudged leave which cost him his off stump.

But the South Africa-born batsman top-scored in the first innings with 69 and comfortably outscored the likes of Ravi Bopara, Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss over the course of two innings.

As such, he feels aggrieved at the level of scrutiny he has been subjected to.

"It's hard. It's difficult when you come in for a lot of criticism when you don't think it's justified," he told The London Paper.

"But you just have to concentrate on your job, making sure you work just as hard, you don't get disillusioned and don't let anyone grind you down because there are still four Tests to go.

"I'm 29 - there are still five or six years left in me, so you can't let a few days of negativity or feedback [upset you].

"I don't read the papers but I hear there's been a ding dong over me. It's sad and frustrating but you have to keep doing the business."

Pietersen accepted that the spotlight falls upon him because he is seen as England's best batsman but vowed to retain his focus and help regain the famous urn he first helped win four years ago.

"Maybe it's because of what I've done in the past five years. You get a tag attached to you," he said.

"It's hard because you are identified as the big wicket or the big something or whatever.

"So I concentrate on the little, simple things: batting, catching, concentrating on helping my mates and making sure we try to win."

The Hampshire star, who resigned as captain following a spat with former coach Peter Moores, also denied he was a divisive influence on the side and reiterated his full backing to his successor, Strauss.

"What I try to do is be honest and supportive of my captain and my team-mates - I help out wherever I can," said Pietersen.

"A lot of people don't know me. If the people who write what they write knew me, there would be a lot of different things said.

"There have been a lot of people who I've met in the past couple of years that have said to me: 'I can't believe how people get you so wrong'.

"Those things that people text and tell you are really nice."

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