It was reckless batting: Kevin Pietersen slams England captain Ben Stokes' knock vs India

Despite seeing his catch dropped twice in England's first innings against India in the ongoing fifth Test match between the two sides at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Ben Stokes' stay at the crease was a short-lived one as he departed after making just 25 runs in 36 balls.

Early in his innings both Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah dropped relatively easy catches on the English skipper, the duo combined to get his wicket later. Stokes tried to smash a delivery from Thakur over mid-on but the Indian captain pulled off an incredible catch to end the star all-rounder's stay at the crease.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen was extremely critical of Stokes' knock and called it a 'reckless innings' and called for more control despite the new approach under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum's regime. "I was watching Stokes run down the wicket and slog the ball straight into the air. It was reckless batting; it was not defending your wicket.

"Test match hundreds are valuable commodities, they mean a hell of a lot because of the stress, tension, patience and discipline. He had three brain fades in 10 minutes. That devaluing of his Test wicket may not be a good thing. He is too good a player to do this," said Pietersen to Sky Sports.

"It's a new approach and entertaining, for sure. Stokes has been talking about that aggressive nature and the way he believes Test cricket needs to be played in this era. But Bairstow is playing with control. He is calm, and composed, is standing still, and playing the ball as he sees it. He is not running down the wicket, he is being calculated. There is no slogging at all, he is playing fabulously," he added.

England were bowled out for 286 runs despite a century from Jonny Bairstow and have conceded a 132-run first innings lead.