Jonathan Trott has revealed a back-to-basics approach is the key to his astonishing recent record in Test cricket.

Trott registered his second double century, and fourth score above 150, on day four of the first npower Test against Sri Lanka to continue an eye-catching run of form for England.

In 19 Test appearances, the Warwickshire batsman has now scored a total of six hundreds - with four in his last seven outings.

With an average of over 66 he currently sits above all but the legendary Sir Donald Bradman of Test batsman to play at least 20 innings.

Quizzed after compiling 203 in a nine-hour marathon at Cardiff, Trott explained his no-frills attitude to international cricket.

"I wouldn't say it's anything to do with any new theories," he said.

"No-one in the world has a divine right to score runs or take wickets or take catches all time and it's a difficult game at times.

"But it is a simple game theory-wise: a ball and a bat and sometimes we complicate it ourselves.

"We can sometimes be our own worst enemy. For me it's really simple, I don't try to do things out of my own bubble, I do things my own way and just try to be as effective as possible.

"As cricketers you can make the game more difficult for yourself and think about the game too much.

"It's a simple thing, a bat and a ball and you just see it and hit it.

"You can over-hype things."

One man who may be guilty of over-thinking his game at the moment is Trott's team-mate Kevin Pietersen.

Having faced serious questions over his hunger - and, for the first time, his place in the Test side - recently, he fell cheaply where Trott, Alastair Cook (133) and Ian Bell (98no) all made hay.

His old nemesis of left-arm spin was again to blame, with Rangana Herath the latest in a long line of such bowlers to undo Pietersen, this time for only three runs.

Shortcomings against slow left-armers are becoming a major issue for one of the most talented batsmen in a generation and he cuts an increasingly nervy presence whenever he faces one.

Trott was firm in defence of Pietersen.

"With Kev it's a case of things just not going his way the last couple of months," he said.

"We saw how he can play in Adelaide this winter (where Pietersen made 227).

"I was quite happy to get out the way and watch him bat and score a double hundred the way he did.

"Everyone in the dressing room backs Kev to the hilt. He's still averaging over 48 in Test cricket, so the guy's a special talent to have in our dressing room.

"With Kevin Pietersen on song we're definitely a better team."

England will resume tomorrow, weather permitting, on 491 for five, a lead of 91.

With rain prevalent for so much of the first four days and forecasts uninspiring, a draw looks the best the hosts can hope for.