England has mental edge over old rivals Australia ahead of Ashes: Pietersen

Sydney, July 10 (ANI): England batsman Kevin Pietersen believes that they have a mental edge over old rivals Australia leading into next year's Ashes, as the Three Lions have landed some "big punches" in winning the present one-day series.

Pietersen said the hosts have struck an important blow ahead of the Ashes.

He believes the landslide victory is a significant factor 12 months out from their bid to win the Ashes for the third time in succession.

"I'm a huge England fan and it's brilliant to be beating Australia at the moment. We've got an Ashes series next year and you want their guys to say 'we've got to play against these blokes next year," Pietersen told the Daily Mail.

"We can't score more than 250 against them in a one-day game'. It's the mental edge you want over them. We've thrown some big punches against them and that's fantastic," he said.

Pietersen stood down from the 50-overs game in an effort to prolong his career and subsequently retired from Twenty20 internationals as well when the England and Wales Cricket Board told him that if he played one limited-overs format he must be available for the other, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. (ANI)