Warne wants more

Shane Warne is happy to lose his personal duel with Kevin Pietersen - providing Australia complete only the second Ashes whitewash in history.

The head-to-head battle between the Hampshire team-mates has been one of the highlights of a largely one-sided series, with Pietersen scoring three half-centuries and a superb 158.

Warne has countered that by claiming the crucial wicket of Pietersen during England’s collapse on the final day at Adelaide, which enabled Australia to clinch an unexpected victory and take a 2-0 lead in the series.

But as Warne prepares for his final Test at his home ground, the MCG, he insists he is content for Pietersen to continue in his rich vein of form – as long as Australia keep winning.

“It doesn’t matter how successful someone is on the opposition – it’s about winning and we’re up 3-0,” said Warne, who is one wicket away from becoming the first bowler in history to claim 700 Test victims.

“It doesn’t matter if Kevin Pietersen is making runs – if they’re still losing and we’re winning that’s all that matters.

“If Kevin Pietersen makes a hundred in this Test and we win again, then that’s okay.”

Warne also claims he is happy for England to continue with their aggressive approach to his bowling, which was successful in 2005 but has been less effective this series.

The legendary leg-spinner bowled spells in Adelaide and Perth which proved crucial to Australia regaining the Ashes, and he is confident he can help them wrap up a series whitewash before he retires from Test cricket in Sydney.

“In 2005 and this series they’ve tried to be a lot more aggressive, which I always believe works in my favour,” he explained. “The more aggressive they are the better because it means they are trying to play big shots to good balls.

“I think the only one that has really played me well in this series is Kevin Pietersen. He can play against quicks or spinners. He can be pretty destructive.”

Warne is particularly confident about his ability to outwit Ian Bell, who has been one of the more consistent performers in the England line-up and struck an impressive 87 in Perth.

“I still think I’ve got the wood on Ian Bell,” he added. “We saw that in Perth.

“He played a couple of good shots down the ground but I beat him once or twice an over, so I still think I've got the wood on him.

“There are a few of the other guys I still think I’ve got the wood on as well, so I feel confident bowling against the English.

“I suppose my record speaks for itself over a long period of time.”