THE England cricket team victory over Australia at Trent Bridge was a great effort and fully deserved.

We won, and will win The Ashes for several reasons:

1 Michael Vaughan captained his team better than Ricky Ponting, with more respect and planning.

2 We have Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff.

3 Too many of their stars are under-performing - Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn Martyn, Matthew Hayden, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Glenn McGrath.

4 Our home fans are like a 12th man.

5 Australia have only been really tested once in the last 20 years - in India when Steve Waugh lost a Test series.

6 The crucial "suspect" umpiring decisions have favoured England.

7 Australia are getting old and have not blooded new young talent soon enough.

8 At long last, England have real talent, team spirit and self belief.

Roll on the Oval and final victory.

David Quarrie,

Lynden Way,

York.

Updated: 10:27 Wednesday, September 07, 2005