article: Media playback is not supported on this device The 73-year-old, who guided England to three Test series wins against Australia, believes their "exciting" crop of young players are the key. Brearley, captain in 31 Tests from 1977-81, said Alastair Cook is "decent, straightforward and honest", but added: "I'm not sure how much flair he has. "Can you win the Ashes without that flair? No." He added: "One of the exciting things is the flair in the young players from number five to number eight - Joe Root is a terrific player, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali." By winning in 1977 and 1978-79, Brearley was the last skipper to lead England to home and away Ashes success until Andrew Strauss, more than 30 years later. His most famous win came when he returned to the captaincy part way through the 1981 series, leading his country to a 3-1 victory over Australia. As the 2015 series approaches, Brearley has been talking to Michael Vaughan - an Ashes-winning captain in 2005 - about the challenges facing Cook's side, and the demands of leading your country. After losing 5-0 down under in 2013-14, England are seeking to regain the Ashes this summer, but Brearley feels they may struggle. He said: "Australia are a very tough team. On paper, they're a better team than us. They've certainly got better bowling than we have. "But we're playing at our home grounds, which makes a difference. If we can get that spirit going, and people play to their best, then we've got a chance." England's Test captain Cook was replaced as one-day skipper by Eoin Morgan last December, and left out of their World Cup squad earlier this year. "There's an advantage for Alastair Cook in not having played in the World Cup and the recent one-day matches," Brearley said. "He's been able get away, reorganise, remind himself of his technique and come back fresh. "But it will be difficult for him if things don't go well to start with - and if he doesn't feel he's got the same spirit that the team have had in the one-day matches recently, and if he doesn't quite feel in charge." Brearley sees Cook as one of England's quieter captains - but does not view that as a problem. He said: "Alastair Cook is not a big extrovert. He's not somebody who is going to change things in dramatic ways. "Tony Greig [Brearley's predecessor as England captain from 1975-77] was a bit like that. He was a 6ft 5in blond-haired South African, who made big gestures, who reacted to the crowd, who said things to the opposition, who stirred up Dennis Lillee. "I don't think you have to be like that. One of the important things as captain is that you have to be yourself. "I think Alastair Cook is a leader who is conscientious, he works at it, he's fair-minded to the players." He currently averages 54.11 after 27 Tests and Root's performances at number five have impressed Brearley to the point that he feels the 24-year-old Yorkshireman
summary: England need the flair of their younger batsmen to win an Ashes series, says ex-skipper Mike Brearley.