Graham Thorpe believes Kevin Pietersen is just one innings away from re-producing the kind of performance that saw him tear apart South Africa in 2005.

The Natal-born batsman made his return from a four-month Achilles lay-off when he turned out for England in their second Twenty20 international against the Proteas last month.

Pietersen played in the first two Ashes Tests this summer before succumbing to the injury, which he aggravated in the Indian Premier League earlier this year.

The Hampshire batsman announced his arrival on the international stage four years ago when he returned to the country of his birth to score three centuries for England in a series which England eventually lost 4-1.

Pietersen has struggled to reproduce anything like that kind of form this winter, however, with the 29-year-old failing to pass 50 in his six innings so far.

With the first of four Tests starting next week, there are suggestions that Pietersen will struggle to deal with the Proteas' seam attack, but Thorpe is not worried.

"Once he gets into an innings he'll be fine," said Thorpe, who was appearing at an npower urban cricket event at Lord's.

"It could be in one of these warm-up games. He only needs one score - a 50 or 60 with two or three hours at the crease just to really focus his mind again.

"That's all a person like him needs. He's a big match player with a lot of quality and you just feel that when he does get back he won't be lacking strength or desire against South Africa, that's for sure."

England have four South-African born players in their squad for the Test series - Andrew Strauss, Matt Prior, Jonathan Trott and Pietersen.

All four have had to deal with sledging from the home crowd and team during the tour so far.

Pietersen experienced the same problem when he first toured South Africa and Thorpe believes he is capable of dealing with it, especially now that former England opener Graham Gooch has joined the team's coaching staff.

"The booing is something he's used to," said Thorpe, who played 100 Tests for England.

"It's the country of his birth so he'll look to impress and do well for England. "Graham Gooch is out there working with them now. He can help them by focusing their minds on the mental side of the game and getting them in to score big runs."

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James Anderson was ruled out of today's first warm up match against a South African Invitational XI with a knee injury.

He has had several pain-killing injections and England are hopeful the Lancashire seamer will be fit in time for the Test series, which begins at Centurion next week.

Anderson's fine form was key to England's success in the ODI series, which Andrew Strauss' side won 2-1.

Thorpe said: "Anderson's absence will be a big blow because you need the new ball swinging so England will have to work out which way they'll go, whether they have to go with Onions or Sidebottom.

"The fear is that England will not be able to take 20 wickets and that's going to be England's hardest task. We look a little bit light there."

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