England cricket coach Andy Flower has said that out of form batsman Kevin Pietersen is sure shot starter for the first Test against Bangladesh.

Pietersen managed just 20 in Tuesday's drawn warm-up match against Bangladesh A.

Flower, when asked whether KP's place was on the line, said: "No. I thought Kevin looked good in the middle. But it was a pity he didn't spend three hours there."

"Like most world-class players he spends a lot of time in the nets and a lot of hard work goes into his game. I still expect good things from him," The Sun quoted him, as saying.

Flower's team is likely to feature Matt Prior as wicketkeeper-batsman at No 6, with two spinners and three pacemen. And it is the fast bowling that is causing the biggest riddle because seven hopefuls are vying for those places.

Stuart Broad looks set to lead the attack having come through another workout to test his back problem but Graham Onions remains a doubt.

Flower said: "Sometimes selection is simple, this time it isn't. Injuries are a factor and conditions are a little different. But these are the sort of things that make the job interesting and challenging." (ANI)