Flintoff praises team's character

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England captain Andrew Flintoff has insisted his side have got what it takes to bounce back from their thrashing in the first Ashes Test.

The second Test gets under way in Adelaide on Friday, just four days after England's humbling 277-run defeat in Brisbane.

"We lost the Test, but there is a lot of character in this dressing room," said Flintoff.

"They are tough lads and proud of the way they play their cricket."

<a onClick="javascript:launchAVConsoleStory('6158851'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Interview: England captain Andrew Flintoff</a>

England were thoroughly out-played in Brisbane but there were some signs of life in their batting display in the second innings and Flintoff expects continued improvement in Adelaide.

"The lads want to win out here in Australia and I don't think they need any more incentive or any more rallying around," said Flintoff.

There's been a massive improvement in Harmison's bowling this week England captain Andrew Flintoff

"They are keen to put good performances in and there is still a real nice feeling in the dressing room, as there was before the last one, but there are some really determined lads aiming to try and show what we can do.

"We've played well for the past two or three years and they want to play like that again - it's not knocked the stuffing out of us by any stretch."

England are yet to decide on their starting line-up, but Flintoff is certain he still wants under-performing spearhead Steve Harmison leading his attack.

Harmison was well below his best in the first Test but has been working hard with England bowling coach Kevin Shine in the last few days to try and rediscover the form which terrorised the Australians at the start of the 2005 series.

Flintoff said: "The one thing he has done this week is work unbelievably hard. He wants to show that he's better than he was last week.

606: DEBATE <a class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A17797666"> England should play Harmison, Hoggard, Giles and Panesar for the rest of the series</a> BP <a class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/606/default.stm">606: Have your say</a>

"He came in early yesterday, he's been coming in and netting on his own and working with Kevin Shine and trying to get back to what we know he can be.

"There's been a massive improvement in his bowling this week. I'm sure it's knocked him a little bit, but he's desperate to give something to the side and he's quite open about that.

"You know what you're getting with Harmy - he tries every time. It might not quite happen for him but I'm sure a good performance from him is just around the corner.

"The side will be announced tomorrow but Steve is someone I do like to have in the side."

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar may come into the selection equation, possibly as a replacement for Lancashire seamer James Anderson, to bowl in tandem with Ashley Giles in a twin spin attack.

<li></li> England batting coach Matthew Maynard is flying home from Australia to be with his wife who has been injured in a fall at work.