Gooch batting for failing test duo

The England captain was bowled through the gate by a near unstoppable inswinger from Mohammad Asif in England's 39-1 on a drastically rain-shortened day at Lord's and Pietersen admitted that his confidence has suffered badly in the near 18 months since he last scored a century.

Strauss's travails in a series against Pakistan characterised by a lack of collective runs and the clatter of wickets under cloudy skies, have taken his personal account to 155 in seven innings.

England batting coach Gooch sees no sign of the strain taking its toll on Strauss. "I haven't seen anything get to him. I think he's captained the side really well," he said.

"With every batsman, if you don't score runs, you can't be completely happy. That's anyone – because that's your role, to provide the platform for your bowlers to win the game."