England’s recent triumphs over Australia no reflection of Ashes chances: Kevin Pietersen

England batsman Kevin Pietersen reckons that his team’s recent triumphs over Australia will count for nothing when the two sides resume their battle for the Ashes Down Under. 

England’s Ashes win last summer, May’s Twenty20 World Cup final triumph and the ODI series victory over Australia has prompted talk of successfully defending the Test series, which begins in Brisbane in November.

“I don’t think that the one-day series win and the Twenty20 win will have any effect at all on the Ashes,” The Sun quoted Pietersen, as saying.

“The only thing we can take out of those two series is that we know a bit more about their batsmen and bowlers and their fielding positions,” he added.

The 30-year-old further said that his team is expecting a tough fight from the Australians.

“The Australians are fantastic cricketers. They are tough human beings that will never ever give up so it doesn't matter what the team is like,” Pietersen said.

“The warm-up games going in to the first match will be tough because the state cricketers will want to beat England,” he added.

The first Test in Brisbane, and will be followed by matches in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

England is currently preparing for a four-Test series against Pakistan, which begins at Trent Bridge on July 29.