New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming says England will have to play extremely well to beat Australia in next year's Ashes series, but they have the players to do it. Fleming was speaking as the Kiwis were demoralised for a second time in as many weeks by Australia, this time a 213-run defeat in the Adelaide Test for a two-nil series sweep.
Fleming has recent experience to gauge an accurate opinion on the relative strengths of the two teams, having led the Kiwis to a 3-0 series defeat in England last May-June.
The Black Caps were defeated by seven wickets at Lord's, nine wickets at Headingley and four wickets at Trent Bridge.
"England have individuals who are developing, I think Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison are really emerging to leading world cricketers who can turn a match, Flintoff in particular," Fleming said. "I know Australia will target Flintoff and have already sown the seeds for that.
"Michael Vaughan is a different style of captain to the one they've had previously and they've got some good young players, so I think after playing England and having disappointing results there and the series here, England will have to play extremely well if they are going to compete. "But they do have the personnel who can do that."
More pressing for Fleming is how to get New Zealand competitive for their three Test matches against Australia at home next February-March.
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