Pietersen's dreaming if he thinks England will win Ashes, says Clark

Pietersen declared England would beat Australia next summer if the Poms can replicate the form shown in disposing of South Africa by six wickets in the fourth Test earlier this week.

Clark commended the new England skipper for delivering an aggressive statement of intent after only one Test in charge but insists Pietersen should concentrate on the now before worrying about winning thr Ashes.

You're out: Clark celebrates dismissing Kevin Pietersen during the Ashes in Melbourne in 2006.

'Kev is very good with that sort of stuff. Kevin is a very forthright person, he has very strong opinions he believes in,' Clark said in Sydney today.

'It's going to be a big series, it was a big series out here last time and it will be a huge series when we go there.

'That's the rivalry that cricket needs to thrive in the longer version, not just Twenty20.

'Cricket needs that controversy and excitement between two countries.'

Australia demolished England 5-0 in the 2006/7 series as they recovered from their defeat in England in 2005, and Clark warned his side was not about to let up on the old enemy.

He said: 'We haven't lost many Test matches since 2005, so if form is anything to go by we've probably got them.

'Kevin is good at making statements. He truly believes it. Good luck to him.

'If he's thinking about cricket in one year, I would have thought he'd want to worry about what's happening in the next few months.

'But he's the new captain and full of bravado. If he loses a few Tests we will see if he's still saying something then.'