Kevin Pietersen has been told that he does NOT have a good enough technique to succeed in this summer's Ashes series - by former Australia captain Kim Hughes.

In order to give him a rest, Hampshire batsman Pietersen has been withdrawn from the England A squad's tour of Sri Lanka following his outstanding one-day performances against South Africa.

He now has 558 one-day international runs at 139.50, which have come at a strike rate of 100.72.

But former Australian captain Hughes refuses to be one of Pietersen's growing band of admirers - and has dismissed any notion of the 24-year-old succeeding against Australia in this summer's Ashes series.

Hughes, who led Australia 26 times in the early 1980s, said: "Pietersen has got no technique and won't cope against Australia's bowling attack.

"He's a bit like the Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. He's a dangerous, hard-hitting one-day player but can't play off the back foot.

"Players who can't play off the back front have no chance against Australia."

Hughes laughed at suggestions from former England captains Ian Botham and David Gower, who both believe Pietersen should be in England's Test team to face Australia.

He added: "Andrew Strauss is a much better player than Kevin Pietersen. Strauss is well organised, knows where his off stump is, and crucially knows which balls to leave alone.

"He can combat Australia's bowlers in both Test and one-day international cricket. Strauss is the key for England against Australia, not Pietersen."

Pietersen has been replaced by Essex batsman Alistair Cook in the England A squad, which departs for the sub-continent on February 23.

He will be at the Rose Bowl for the start of Hampshire's pre-season training on March 21 and could make his debut for the county against Gloucestershire on April 13.

Meanwhile, Simon Katich has been confirmed as one of Hampshire's overseas players for next season - a move revealed in the Daily Echo before Christmas.

But he is almost certain to miss more than the five championship matches and seven totesport games that captain Shane Warne will be unavailable for.

Unlike Warne, Katich is expected to be a member of Australia's one-day squad, as well as the Ashes party this summer.

And if Australia's one-day squad have a training camp in England before the ODIs, he will only be available for Hampshire until the end of May.

If the training camp is in Australia, Katich will stay in England and be available to Hampshire until the end of June.

Director of cricket Tim Tremlett has revealed that Hampshire are in the process of finding a replacement for Katich for the time he is away.

But both he and Warne will be available for what could be four crucial games at the end of the season - championship/totesport double headers against Glamorgan in Cardiff and Notts at the Rose Bowl.