Clarke calls tune over England's form

Giles Clarke has issued a thinly-veiled warning to coach Peter Moores about the need for England's Test performances to improve in the build-up to next summer's Ashes series.

Clarke has allowed Moores, who succeeded Duncan Fletcher as coach at the start of last year, to mould a side without interference. But results have disappointed since he took charge. Under Moores England have beaten only West Indies and New Zealand, who are both below them in the ICC rankings, while they have lost home series to India and South Africa and lost in Sri Lanka.

"We have targets that people are expected to achieve and we expect people to do better than those targets, like any other concern," said Clarke.

"We're a national sport, and I'm overwhelmed by the fact we have a huge increase in participation again. But we also have to have a successful Test side."

England downgraded their expectations last year for their senior sides from becoming the world's number one side to simply winning next summer's Ashes series and a global event.

Unless they triumph in the final against India Test at the PCA stadium, their only opportunity for development will be the two Test series next summer against West Indies before they take on Australia again.

"It is imperative we improve our standing," stressed Clarke.

"I was delighted with the improvement in our one-day international standing that we achieved in the summer.

"Touring India was not as successful. But it is a tough place to come, as we all know. It's very important to have targets and a desire to do better, and we expect people to seek to do that."