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Warne: Aussies will wipe the floor with England

08/10/2008

Shane Warne has claimed Australia "will wipe the floor" with England in the 2009 Ashes series unless they show considerable improvement under Kevin Pietersen.

Warne was part of the Australia team that lost the Ashes for the first time in 18 years in 2005 before regaining the urn in comprehensive fashion with a 5-0 series whitewash back on home soil in 2006/07.

And he has rubbished the claims of new captain Pietersen and fast bowler Steve Harmison, who both claimed after England's Test victory over South Africa at the end of the four-match series in the summer that the home side have the ability to win back the oldest prize in cricket.

"I've heard all this talk about how England are going to beat Australia next year, but I'd like them to win something first," said Warne.

"They have won only a dead rubber against South Africa, and suddenly everyone is saying, 'we're going to win the Ashes'."

He continued: "You can talk about a new era and you can talk about 2005, but there has been an Ashes series since then and we won 5-0.

"If England build some winning momentum again, I'm sure they could give Australia a real shake.

"But if they keep losing Test series and winning only dead rubbers, Australia will wipe the floor with them."

Pietersen is still unbeaten as England captain ahead of this winter's Test and one-day matches in India, having sealed a 4-0 ODI series victory over South Africa.

But Warne has sounded a warning to England fans who are expecting the run to continue right the way through to the end of next summer.

"Before the Ashes, England need to start winning some series and build up momentum - that's what happened in the run-up to 2005," he continued.

"When there's a new captain in charge, everyone is eager to make an impression, everyone wants to get on the same bus.

"The way England played in that dead rubber was encouraging, but I wouldn't build my hopes up too far."