— Photo: AP

MUCH-NEEDED VICTORY: With captaincy off his shoulders, a composed Andrew Flintoff came up with a superb knock to steer England to its first win on the Australian tour.

HOBART: Andrew Flintoff, batting with both strength and commonsense, powered England to its first victory since the tour of Australia began, celebrated as if his team had regained the Ashes and was still grinning 40 minutes later when he said: "This is a tremendous victory for us after all the trials of the last three months."

As always with England there is a downside. Long before it had completed its three-wicket win over New Zealand in the third match of the tri-series — with just one ball remaining — it was known that Michael Vaughan was likely to miss at least the next game, against Australia, in Brisbane on Friday.

Vaughan tore a hamstring fielding, made 17 when England began its reply, finished his innings with Jamie Dalrymple as his runner and will go for a scan before a final decision is made on his next few days.

"I am very doubtful for Friday," he said. "But I have never had a hamstring injury before, I don't know how it will react and we will have to wait for the medical reports."

Captaincy

Both Vaughan and Flintoff became coy when asked who would be the captain; presumably the choice lies between Andrew Strauss and Flintoff. I believe it has to be Flintoff because England will look foolish if it has three international captains on one tour, but there is no doubt Flintoff bats and bowls with more ferocity when he is not asked to lead the team as well.

Tuesday was typical of his input into a side that is regaining some of its old glitz now that Vaughan is in charge again and Flintoff is able to concentrate on hitting the ball miles and bowling close to 90 miles an hour.

First he got rid of Peter Foulton, the most dangerous lower-order New Zealand batsman, and when he went to the wicket with England 106 from victory with 12 overs remaining, he soon found the boundaries that led him to an undefeated 72 from 75 balls with seven fours.

"When I came back to lead the side I suggested that Freddie go to No. 6 where he can do a lot of damage," said Michael Vaughan.

"This guy did it for us today and now there is a different feeling in the England camp. We were showing signs of improvement against Australia in Melbourne now we have to improve on this performance. It is not going to happen quickly but this is a big first step."

Foundation

Strauss and Ian Bell laid the foundation for victory, but on an almost weary pitch, it was necessary to be both careful and powerful to make the only fifty of the match as Flintoff did.

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, said generously: "Flintoff is a class player and he has done this sort of thing before, so we were worried about him. England will be delighted with this victory — and so they should."

The New Zealand innings had hardly been a vibrant example of aggressive attempt apart from the first over when McCullum hit 12 off Jon Lewis who never found his accuracy again. Steady rather than enterprising batting followed with Nathan Astle as the anchor. He made 45 in 24 overs and it was clear England thought his pattern was one to follow.

More to the point 49 runs came from the last two stands, which began in the 38th over to give New Zealand 205 for nine.

The pitch was the villain; without any sort of life. They say that if there are six Tests in the next Ashes tour one will be played at Bellerive Oval.

If you see that confirmed get your money on the draw immediately.

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