Flintoff: we’re ready to hit back

ANDREW FLINTOFF is confident he has seen enough of a response from his under-fire England squad to believe they can be competitive in the remainder of the Ashes series.

The England captain and the rest of the touring party have faced several days of self-analysis following their comprehensive 277-run defeat at the Gabba.

The resounding manner of their defeat has provoked fears the tourists, missing key figures from their 2005 Ashes winning line-up in Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones, may be dominated throughout the series.