Winning skipper KP eyes Ashes after England end series on high

KP Eyes The Ashes: England captain Kevin Pietersen says: "Bring on the Aussies!" after England beat South Africa at the Oval

The home side made light of an awkward target of 197 on the last day of the fourth npower Test - eventually cruising to a six-wicket win over South Africa, courtesy of half-centuries from openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook.

Although England had already lost the series and drop to fifth in the world rankings as a result, their new skipper was buoyant about the team's chances of ambushing Australia a year from now.

'If we play like we did this week, we will beat Australia,' said Pietersen.

'With the players and the structure we've got, and the attacking way we've gone about our game here, we're not far away from the way I want us to play in the future. It was very close to being a perfect start.'

However, he went on to admit that the challenge in 2009 would be monumental and that Australia are still the benchmark to aspire to.

'It will take a lot to do that (win the Ashes),' added the 28-year-old.

'This is just a starting point for England. We have to look at the Aussies because they are right on it every day, when they are warming up in the morning or when they are playing. I want us to be on it every day and make sure we are not in a comfort zone.

'In the last few days, I have been thinking ahead to Australia next year - I want us to get the structure right so that guys settle into certain positions, feel comfortable in them, know their roles and deliver.'

One key consideration has been the position of Andrew Flintoff in the batting order and Pietersen revealed that he wants him to act as a bona fide all-rounder, as he did at The Oval.

'I'm very happy with Freddie at No. 6 and, when we play Australia next summer, I want Fred batting at No. 6 in my team,' he said.

Owzat, boss?! Steve Harmison celebrates with skipper Kevin Pietersen after taking the wicket of Jacques Kallis on day four at the Oval

While Pietersen was delighted with the collective contribution of his players in regaining some pride in a lost series, he was especially satisfied with the performance of Steve Harmison on his comeback.

The Durham fast bowler - who will miss his county's home championship match against Notts, starting today - claimed four wickets and weighed in with a Test-best score of 49 not out.

'Steve was magnificent,' said Pietersen. 'I said, when I told him that he was playing: "I want you to bowl fast and straight and be the old Steve Harmison, with the extra responsibility of getting runs at No. 9". He more than did his job here.

'We've seen how important he is to England. He is a huge player for us and I'll be trying to look after him. I'm definitely going to get the best out of him.'

Harmison retired from one-day international cricket during the last Ashes tour Down Under and Pietersen admitted he spoke to him yesterday about perhaps reconsidering his position.

'I asked him about that at lunchtime today and he said: "We'll see". But the problem for Steve is being away from his family,' said the skipper. 'I respect that. You don't always get what you want.'

South Africa captain Graeme Smith conceded that, having clinched the series the previous week, his team lacked the same desire and focus.

'I think the emotion that we felt after winning at Edgbaston was always going to be difficult to reinvent and bring into this game,' he said. 'I think that showed.

'We would play well for an hour and a bit, then we’d lose our way a bit. When you get 194 in your first innings, you are always playing catch-up from there and we almost got ourselves back into the match a few times, but we were just lacking that oomph I think, that we had in the other games.'