Pietersen keen to keep peace

Kevin Pietersen and Shane Warne share a drink after last year's Ashes © Getty Images

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Kevin Pietersen has challenged Australia to retain off-field friendships with England this winter despite demands from down under for a more ruthless edge.

Pietersen is close mates with Australia great Shane Warne and their bond was a lasting feature of the 2-1 England victory last year, most poignantly when Warne made a bee-line to congratulate his Hampshire colleague following a series-clinching hundred at the Brit Oval.

Players sharing a beer with the opposition in the dressing rooms was also a regular feature of the 2005 Ashes campaign.

As a result, former Australian players, including selector Merv Hughes, have urged a ditching of the nice guy images for killer instinct in a bid for revenge.

Warne congratulates Pietersen on his century at the Brit Oval last summer © Getty Images

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But Pietersen, speaking in India, where the two teams will meet in the ICC Champions Trophy, said: "That's what created such a buzz about cricket again because everybody was so hard on the field and shared a beer off the field in the last Ashes.

"The sportsmanship between the two teams was amazing and that's how sport should be played.

"You play this game to enjoy yourself and to make friends.

"Everybody went out there and played for their country and as soon as we crossed the white line everybody was at each others’ throats.

"At the end of the day Warney got 40 wickets and I got runs - it didn't affect our performances.

"Hopefully this series will be exactly the same as the last one."