Ashes 2013-14: 'Informal batting coach' Kevin Pietersen gives Stuart Broad some tips

Kevin Pietersen gave Stuart Broad a one-to-one batting clinic today as England sought ways to improve their performance for next week’s Second Ashes Test.

In the nets at Traeger Park, Pietersen gave Broad detailed instructions on how to play the short ball and how to approach front-foot shots. The batsman would then ask assistant coach Richard Halsall to deliver different types of throw-downs at his team-mate.

Pietersen’s work contradicts the idea that he is interested only in his own game. Team sources revealed Pietersen has been giving informal batting coaching to the lower order since last summer, and Steve Finn has spoken on this tour about the practice he has done with Pietersen.

It also offers more evidence that the 33-year-old is fully “reintegrated” after his well-publicised banishment from the team in 2012, after he was found to have sent provocative texts about then-captain Andrew Strauss to members of the South Africa team.

England rookie Gary Ballance said: “The senior players are always around to offer help when you need advice about your game.”