LEEDS, June 8: New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said on Monday England fast bowler Stephen Harmison had been the key to the Kiwis' Test series reverse.

England beat New Zealand by nine wickets at Headingley to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series following their seven-wicket win at Lord's.

Harmison had match figures of eight for 131, his tally for the series now standing at an impressive 15 for 333 with his wickets coming at an economical cost of just over 22 runs each.

And Fleming said he could have the same impact for England as Brett Lee had for Australia. Asked if Harmison, 25, could be compared to Glenn McGrath, the rock of the Australian attack, Fleming likened him instead to the more explosive Lee.

"I don't think he wants to do what Glenn McGrath does. I'm sure he'd like the same statistics but he is a different bowler. "He's more the Brett Lee combination with a bit more height. He is a bit more dynamic than Glenn McGrath."

Fleming said his pace attack at Headingley had failed to defend a healthy first innings total. -AFP