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.

The England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, in Mohali for the final Test against India which starts tomorrow morning, has previously kept his own counsel about the performances of the Test side since being appointed to the post last year.

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.

Despite a dominant performance for the majority of the opening Test in Chennai, England lost by six wickets to india and must now win the final Test in Mohali to level the series and prevent another defeat.

“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 Test at the PCA stadium, which starts tomorrow, 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.”

While fortunes may not have improved on the pitch, Clarke remains bullish about England's long-term deal with Sir Allen Stanford - which appeared to be in doubt following reports the Texan planned to end his long-term backing of West Indies cricket.

The ECB were concerned at reports the billionaire had disbanded his Stanford Twenty20 Board, terminated the contracts of his 'legends' and closed his cricket office in Antigua amid rumours he was dissatisfied with the return on his investment in the Caribbean.

They feared Stanford, who has poured millions of dollars into West Indies cricket and funded their domestic Twenty20 competition, could also withdraw from agreements to bankroll an annual 20million US dollars winner-takes-all match between his All Stars side and England and a proposed quadrangular Twenty20 tournament to be staged at Lord's next summer.

But ECB chief executive David Collier spoke directly to Stanford yesterday and was reassured enough to e-mail chairman Clarke and reveal his confidence in the future of the five-year deal.

“Any issues that exist are clearly issues that exist in the Caribbean, and we are not involved,” said Clarke.

“David Collier has spoken to him, and he wanted to make it clear that he is committed to working with the ECB.”

Stanford's dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board is believed to hinge on problems with Digicel - the main sponsors of the West Indies team - which almost caused November's Stanford Super Series match in Antigua to be cancelled.

The two parties came to a compromise to allow the match to take place, which the All Stars won by 10 wickets.

The ECB do not intend to intervene now Stanford has reassured them he wishes to continue his partnership with them.

“He's not said anything to us about ceasing to carry on doing things for West Indies cricket,” added Clarke. “His issue is with the West Indies cricket board over the Digicel matter.

“He has an issue with them. They are going discuss and debate that, and he's made it perfectly clear he wishes to carry on with his arrangements with us.

“We're not in a position to dictate to either him of the West Indies Cricket Board about how they wish to deal with each other.”

Stanford is also expected to become a major backer of the proposed England Premier League Twenty20 tournament from 2010, with his All Stars expected to be one of two overseas teams also included.

The quadrangular tournament has also been confirmed for May 28 to 30 next summer as a warm-up for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament - and although no opposition has yet been confirmed, West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are expected to complete the line-up.
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