Lara says England must attack

Brian Lara has told England they must forget about trying to play a containing game if they want to wrest the Ashes back from Australia. England, who have lost their last eight Test series against them, are now second behind Ricky Ponting's men and hopes of a first Ashes triumph since 1986-87 have been stirred by victories in the past two limited-overs matches.

"Australia know it's a more competitive English team that it is facing," Lara said after the tsunami appeal one-day match at Lord's. "It's going to be a good contest, I don't know if it is going to be close, but I know England are playing good cricket at present. Australia love teams that sit back, be patient and try to win a game from a few mistakes by the Australian team. They [England] have to be aggressive all the time, three sessions a day, 15 sessions a Test match."

England beat Australia by six wickets in the Champions Trophy semi-final in September and on Monday won the Twenty20 match at The Rose Bowl by 100 runs. "The last two successes England have had over the Australians, it's because of aggressive cricket, attacking cricket," Lara said.

"They played it better than Australia, they didn't sit back and allow the world champions to dictate. That's what they need to do in the triangular series coming up and in the Test series." Australia's first match against England in the NatWest Series is at Bristol on Sunday.

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, also predicted a great summer and said it was England's best chance to win the Ashes for years. "The billing is one and two in the world, I can't wait to watch it," he said. "[The Twenty20] was a spar, the first of many I'm sure," Fleming said. "We need to acknowledge that the last two years of their Test cricket has been superb. [England] have got every right to feel confident they can challenge Australia."

Fleming, whose best result against Australia was 0-0 in three Tests in 2001-02, said to topple the world champions five or six players needed to have outstanding series. "I haven't beaten Australia so I'm in no position to advise Michael Vaughan," he said. "We've tended to compete for a period of time. The trick is to compete for the entire series. That's the challenge, maintaining a higher standard for a longer period of time."

Lara said after the tsunami match that he wasn't sure if it was his final game at cricket's home. "I thought the Test match [last year] was," he said. "I've always loved playing at Lord's. Every time I go out there I try to make sure that people see the best of me." West Indies next tour England in 2007 when Lara will be almost 40.