Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has claimed that Shane Watson deserves another chance to prove his worth for Australia in The Ashes.

Reports have suggested that Watson will be replaced by Mitchell Marsh for the second Test at Lord's after his lbw troubles resurfaced in the series opener in Cardiff, but Pietersen believes that the all-rounder will be unfortunate if he misses out on Thursday morning.

"Every time the Australians get beaten, it's always Shane Watson who takes the heat and surprise, surprise, this time it's no different," he told reporters.

"Let's make no bones about it, he's got to stop getting out lbw and start scoring some big runs, no-one is un-droppable after all, but he's a match winner.

"I've seen first-hand what damage Watson can do and, for me, talk of dropping him is massively premature. He needs to be backed by the Aussies, not hounded."

Marsh was not selected for the first Test in Cardiff despite scoring centuries against Kent and Essex before the series.