Former England spinner Shaun Udal has insisted that Australia's players are "very happy" that batsman Kevin Pietersen has been overlooked for The Ashes.

The 35-year-old has been left out due to what ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss described as "trust issues".

Calls have been made for Pietersen to return to the fold on the back of England's crushing second-Test defeat last week, but having been omitted once more, Udal has criticised the "ridiculous" decision.

"I believe in playing your best XI players and the ECB have got themselves into a position where they're not doing that and it's entirely for non-cricketing reasons," he told Kicca. "If you're picking on ability then there's no doubt Kevin Pietersen plays in next week's Test at Edgbaston.

"I think it's incredibly unfair – unfair on Kev and unfair on the fans who deserve to see the best players play for their country. We need to move on from what's happened in the past and get him in the side because, and this is no disrespect to those picked, Kev is easily in our best XI. You want and need the best XI and it's ridiculous England don't pick theirs.

"That's not only my view but also that of three Aussie players I saw at Lord's. They are very happy Kev isn't being picked because, in their words, if he came back the "chances of Australia winning the Ashes would be reduced." If that's what the opposition thinks then that speaks volumes."

Udal was Pietersen's captain during their time together at Hampshire.