Kevin Pietersen has urged Alastair Cook to resign as England captain.

Having lost seven of his last nine Tests in charge of the side, Cook has also failed to make a century in 27 innings.

With his position as skipper under threat, Pietersen believes that his former teammate needs to step down in order to salvage his batting career.

"Alastair Cook is enduring an experience I would not wish on my worst enemy. He will not be able to sleep at night and when he eventually drifts off and wakes up in the morning the last and first things going through his mind will be worries over his career and his job," Pietersen wrote in The Telegraph.

"But he should do what is right for England and resign the captaincy. He has shown he does not have the tactical brain to lead the side.

"England badly miss Cook the opening batsman scoring 150 to set games up at the top of the order and, relieved of the captaincy, I don't think it is too late for him to rediscover this form.

"He could have another 10 years left but his batting requires emergency help and he needs to speak to someone away from the England setup. He has to be honest with himself."

England return to action on Sunday when they face India in the third Test in Southampton. The hosts currently trail the five-Test series 0-1 with three matches left to play.