London: Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott feels that England under the leadership Kevin Pietersen can win the Ashes series against the Australians next year.

"Earlier, I had thought England would find it difficult to win back the Ashes. Now, suddenly, there is hope. If England can keep everyone fit, they might be able to give the Australians a real run for their money next summer," he wrote in his column for the Telegraph. Boycott also said that the form shown by Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff , heroes of 2005 Ashes triumph, boosted England's chances.

At the moment, Flinoff seems to be playing proper innings, rather than trying to slog. He doesn"t have to hit the ball in the air to score quickly. His power is just as effective when he keeps it on the deck," he added.

The cricketer-turned-TV commentator also lauded England the selectors for appointing him as the skipper."The first step to recovery was appointing Kevin Pietersen as captain. I advocated that should have happened a year ago, when they gave the one-day job to Paul Collingwood instead. My reason was that Pietersen is self-confident and self-assured, his own man with his own views and his own way of doing things," he wrote.

OneIndia