LONDON, June 11: Former Australia captain Steve Waugh believes fast bowlers Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones hold the key to England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes on home soil next year.

“It’ll be very hard for England to win without him (Flintoff),” Waugh told the July issue of the Wisden Cricketer.

“When he’s there he’s got a certain aura about him. Simon Jones is the other one that England need to get back in the fold as soon as they can.”

Flintoff and Jones were England’s leading wicket takers in the victorious 2005 Ashes, with 42 wickets between them, but have never played a Test together since.

The 1999 World Cup-winning captain Waugh, 43, believes England, who last weekend wrapped up a 2-0 series win over New Zealand, require consistency in team selection but was hopeful they could mount a strong challenge for the Ashes.—AFP