FORMER Hampshire and England star Alan Mullally has sided with “arrogant” Kevin Pietersen over the controversy which saw him step down as national skipper.

Mullally said Pietersen should be “applauded” for taking the stance he did prior to the remarkable events of last week.

He also claimed that Australia’s raft of recent retirements has given England a chance to win “three or four consecutive” Ashes series – starting with this summer’s showdown in this country.

“This is England’s time to be the dominant side and to go on and win three or four consecutive Ashes series like the Aussies have done so many times,” said Mullally, who has lived in Australia for the last few years since leaving the Rose Bowl.

England last won three consecutive Ashes series from 1953-1958 when they never lost a Test series against any country.

“Australia were always going to struggle after the retirements of some of their best players like Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and now Matthew Hayden.

“They were not just outstanding players, but some of the greatest cricketers of all time.

“Kevin Pietersen standing down from the England captaincy could be a blessing in disguise,” Mullally continued.

“It will stop the other players’ bickering among themselves.

“KP is arrogant and single-minded, but all of the best players are.

“He would have made a fantastic captain and he will do so again in the future.

“He wanted to get Michael Vaughan back into the England team because Michael is hugely experienced and KP felt he didn’t have a good relationship with Peter Moores.

“He should be applauded for wanting to run the England team his way and for telling the selectors ‘Look, I’m in charge and I want the right players to run the team my way. If it all goes pear shaped, I will be the only person to blame’.

“Peter Moores won a couple of County Championships with Sussex but he never played international cricket and England’s results in his tenure in charge as national coach weren’t very good.

“There’s no doubt that KP was the right man to lead England, but I suppose when he said to the selectors ‘It’s Moores or me’ they had to make a decision.

“The ECB felt they had no choice but to me they are the gin and tonic brigade running English cricket.

“They probably thought ‘We can’t afford not to have KP as a player but we can’t have him dictating terms to us so we’ll sack him but tell everyone he’s resigned’.

“KP is England’s best batsman by a country mile - he’s phenomenal.

“He’s not afraid to say what he thinks which is a great quality for a captain to have.

“Andrew Strauss could do a good job but he doesn’t have KP’s flair.

“There are lots of people saying KP wasn’t the right man to lead England but they said the same thing about Shane Warne.

“Warnie should have led Australia but he never got the chance [in Test matches] but everyone at Hampshire can tell you how good a captain Warnie is.”

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