England weaker without KP: Clarke

Australia captain Michael Clarke says England are a weaker team without exiled batsman Kevin Pietersen, but still expects a tough challenge from Alastair Cook’s men this winter.

Clarke left Sydney today for the Caribbean where Australia play two Tests against the West Indies before travelling to England for the five-match Ashes series starting July 8 in Cardiff.

One man who Clarke and his charges won’t face is Pietersen, after the South Africa-born batsman was told he was not part of England’s selection plans this season by new England and Wales Cricket Board Director of Cricket Andrew Strauss on Tuesday.

While Strauss delivered his verdict on the 34-year-old’s short-term international future, Pietersen walked off The Oval with 355 not out next to his name – his highest first-class score and the largest individual county cricket total for 21 years.

Clarke, who will captain Pietersen at the Melbourne Stars in the KFC T20 Big Bash League this summer, says he has mixed feelings about his long-time Ashes rival and future teammate’s exclusion.

“There’s probably two sides for me,” he explained. “There’s the personal side where I feel for KP because I get on well with him and I’d love to see him back playing cricket for England.

“His form has been outstanding, he’s still a great player and I know he wants to play, so I feel for him on that side.

“The other side (is) we go there soon to play against England.

“Any team without Kevin Pietersen in it I don’t think is as strong.

“His statistics speak for themselves.

“He’s been a wonderful player over a long period of time and he’s obviously still in career-best form.”

Clarke joins Aussies speedsters Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle in voicing his relief that one of Australia’s Ashes tormentors will not be taking the field for England as the visitors aim to end a 14-year Test series drought in the United Kingdom.

While Australia enter the Ashes as firm favourites, Clarke says he expects to face a difficult England side who shift up a gear on their own circuit.

“Playing away from home is your greatest challenge as an international sporting team and England will be tough,” Clarke said.

“When we get there, no matter what 11 players they put on the field they’re going to be really tough (because) they know their conditions well.

“As are West Indies, and it’s really important we stay focused this West Indies tour and have some success there.”

At 34, Clarke acknowledges the Test tours to the British Isles and the Caribbean will likely be the last times he visits those destinations in a playing capacity, and also cleared up his reported involvement in the rebel T20 league proposed by Subhash Chandra and his multi-million dollar media conglomerate Essel Group.

Clarke had been linked with countryman David Warner as potential targets for the breakaway league, with 10-year contracts worth $50 million set to be tabled to the high-profile batsmen.

But in one quick statement, the Australia Test skipper dismissed any association with the Chandra, Essel and the unofficial tournament like a low full toss to the midwicket boundary.

"I haven't spoken to anybody about that,” he said.

Australia’s first Test against West Indies begins on June 3.