KP predicts Ashes win despite series defeat to Proteas

London, Aug.12 (ANI): Recently-installed England captain Kevin Pietersen has predicted his team can win back the Ashes next year after England beat South Africa in the fourth and final Test at the Oval.

"If we play like we played this week, then we will beat Australia. It is going to take a lot to do it.

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This is a one off and a starting stage but the key is to turn up to every single Test match like we did this week," The Telegraph quoted Pietersen, as saying.

"What we have got to do is look at the Australians and learn from them - they are on it every day and every session. That is what we have to do and my main drive with this team is to be on top of it every day and make sure we do not have any comfort zones," he added.

Pietersen has only been in the job for a week but his strategy to beat Australia is already taking shape. He wants Andrew Flintoff to remain at six in the batting order and call upon a five man bowling attack.

"I have been doing a lot of thinking over the last few days about scenarios. I definitely have done a lot more thinking about Australia than I would have done as a player because you want to get your structure right so players play in certain position for a long amount of time. They can then feel comfortable, know their role and deliver," he said.

South Africa may have already won the series, but 15,000 were there to witness Flintoff win the match with a six.

Openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss had already more or less assured Pietersen a winning start as England captain - a feat only achieved by one of his seven predecessors. (ANI)