Kevin Pietersen intends to keep playing "like a clown" as he sets his sights on a third Ashes series win in four attempts.

Following England’s warm-up win against Western Australia this morning, the former Hampshire star is still without a first-class hundred since he made one for England at Test level in the Caribbean 20 months ago.

But he is increasingly confident he has his mind properly prepared for the challenges ahead.

"I've never really been a technical player. I play like a clown," he said, recalling his trip to South Africa and chats there with coach Graham Ford which he believes have paid rich dividends already.

"It's just my mental approach that I needed to change, just get a load of confidence back, and I'm on fire at the moment.

"I'm looking forward now; I'm not interested in what's gone. I'm very happy with what's happening at the moment."

Pietersen has known former South Africa coach Ford for more than 20 years, and their latest meetings were badly needed after his run of poor form.

"It was amazing," said the South Africa-born batsman.

"He's a close family friend - I feel great at the moment.

"He just knows me, has done since I was a little nipper, so he knows how to sort me out."

Pietersen added: "I came back from South Africa for a couple of weeks, and I feel top-drawer again.

"I hope there's plenty more to come this winter.

"I love playing in Australia. I had some really good success here personally last time."

Pietersen does not prize rehearsal runs especially highly - but will take them.

"That's probably the second-highest score I've ever got in a warm-up game before a Test," he said of his first innings 58 against Marcus North’s Western Australia.

"I'm not too fazed. If the runs come in a warm-up game, okay; if they don't, it only counts at the Gabba."

Pietersen knows a much bigger stage is beckoning, and is determined to keep raising his game.

He has always done so against Australia, and can even point to personal success when England last toured down under - and lost 5-0 under Andrew Flintoff.

"I got 500 runs at 55 last time," he said.

"But I'd take 350 and an Ashes victory, that's for sure.

"I've been pretty fortunate to play three Ashes, and won two of them.

"I'd love to go three-four. We've got a very, very good unit at the moment - very happy in all our roles in the team."

Australia are shaping up as less than formidable opponents at present, having only ended a record-equalling run of seven successive defeats across the formats against Sri Lanka in a one day international this weekend.

But Pietersen insists he has more important things to occupy his mind than Australia's troubles - most recently in a one-day international series at home to Sri Lanka.

"I haven't watched a single ball," he said. "My computer is turned on to Skype, and I speak to my wife and my baby as much as I can.

"I haven't even turned my television on in Australia; I haven't read a headline, nothing.

"Somebody told me this morning that they lost, but that's got nothing to do with us.

"We're concentrating on our game; we're playing Western Australia.

"You guys talk about them; you guys concentrate on them; we'll concentrate on what we do."

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