England have the edge - Fletcher

England name unchanged squad

Coach Duncan Fletcher insists England will take a psychological advantage into the third Ashes Test on Thursday.

Fletcher believes England's two-run win at Edgbaston could haunt Australia.

"I think if they had got beaten by 60 or 70 runs they could have walked away from it and said, 'Right, lets get on with it,'" Fletcher told BBC Five Live.

"But having got so close, it must have some sort of psychological effect. It was mind-sapping and hopefully it will be an advantage for us."

Australia had looked set for an improbable victory at Edgbaston after edging to within three runs of England's target of 282.

But they fell just short as last man Michael Kasprowicz gloved Steve Harmison to wicket-keeper Geraint Jones.

Flintoff has proved he's a really top-class international all-rounder England coach Duncan Fletcher

The two sides now go to Old Trafford with the five-Test series level at 1-1, and Fletcher has urged England not to get carried away.

"It's crucial that we don't get above ourselves," he said.

"It's nice to see that we're a young side that's improving and there's still a lot of improvement to be made, yet we've just beaten Australia.

"Although it was only by three runs, I believe session by session it was a lot more convincing than that.

"It will be nice the see the guys get back to basics. It's another Test match and we've just got to make sure we go in with the same positive, confident frame of mind."

England can win Ashes - Flintoff

Fletcher was full of praise for man of the match Andrew Flintoff, who hit two half-centuries and took seven wickets at Edgbaston.

"It was nice to see a performance like that," said Fletcher.

"Sometimes he was criticised that he would get on to flat wickets and take advantage.

"He's played in situations now where the wicket wasn't flat. He was under pressure and he didn't have many batters to bat with.

"He's proved that he's a really top-class international all-rounder.

"His bowling over the last two years has shown that he has quality there. He just had to finally put to bed certain criticisms of his batting.

"He's now come to the fore and shown that he's taken on the best bowlers and destroyed them as well, and it shows he's a very useful member for England cricket."