England was heading nowhere under coach Peter Moores six months back but with Andy Flower at the helm things have changed and the players are confident to face the Australians in next month’s Ashes, said flamboyant batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen, who stepped down as captain following his row with Moores six months back, said England cricket has achieved enough under Flower and have left behind the “unhappy” days when they did not have much voice.

“The team wasn’t happy, things weren’t right and England cricket was going nowhere. That’s the reason I did what I did in January. But I believe in the last six months the team has made big progress before a huge, huge series against Australia. I’m very happy, and everyone’s happy,” Pietersen said.

“We’ve seen how Andy Flower has settled into his job and how well Straussy is doing. The team is so happy, everyone knows how excited we are, and how everyone’s gelled,” he said.

Pietersen indicated that the players did not have much voice under Moores which affected the dressing room atmosphere.

“If things hadn’t changed, I wouldn’t have been as confident as I am now.”

“This team has done well enough in the last six months to challenge Australia. I’m not going to say we are going to win, I’m just going to say we’ll be alright. It’s about the way we’ve played, the happiness in the dressing room, and the way the players have had a voice, and how they’ve wanted to go about doing things. It hasn’t just been one voice, but a collective among the management committee,” Pietersen said.

“There were a lot of players who weren’t happy, and a lot of captains who weren’t happy as well. Both Andys have been absolutely fantastic, and to all the players, they have all bought into it, and made sure we’re a happy dressing-room whether we win or we lose.”

Pietersen refused to believe that the Australians were toothless sans Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist.

“I think we’ve got a good chance, but I don’t believe for one second that Australia are not as good a team without the likes of Warne and Gilchrist because their strength in depth is pretty good.

“It’s going to be very tough series, not easy at all. People say they are ripe for the taking and stuff, but I’m sure they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”