By Bryn Palmer

Vaughan is getting used to opening the celebratory champagne

Whisper it quietly, but England might just be forging a side capable of giving Australia a run for their money in next summer's Ashes series.

That may be an ambitious target for Michael Vaughan's increasingly impressive team, but not an unrealistic one if progress continues on the current upward curve.

Monday's victory at Headingley over New Zealand secured back-to-back Test series wins for the first time since 2000-2001, when a first series win over the West Indies for 31 years was followed by victories in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

With the West Indies due next month for a four-match series, there is every prospect of England extending their current impressive run.

They have won eight of their last 12 Tests, and five of the last six.

ICC RATINGS (BEFORE ENG V NZ) 1: Australia 127 pts 2: South Africa 112 3: England 103 4: India 102 5: New Zealand 101

Should they win the final Test at Trent Bridge, they will edge even closer to South Africa - with whom they drew 2-2 last summer - in the official International Cricket Council Test Championship.

Another successful series against the West Indies would see only Australia ahead of them.

Nasser Hussain lamented on his retirement that his only regret was not having participated in an Ashes series where England had a real chance of victory.

He is not alone there among recent generations, but the present one is showing signs it has the necessary skill and steel to match Ricky Ponting's side.

There is still a vacancy for a top-class, wicket-taking spinner, but elsewhere the pieces are starting to fit into place.

Jones' batting is a major bonus

The brutal batting of wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist has been a key feature of Australia's ability to take games away from opponents.

Geraint Jones may not be the finished article yet, but a century in only his third Test justified the selectors' contentious decision to hand him the gloves ahead of Chris Read.

Jones clearly took the confidence from that knock into the field with him and a superlative catch to dismiss Scott Styris was evidence of his improved keeping.

The emergence of Jones, and Andrew Flintoff's development into a genuine all-rounder, means England now have a lengthy batting line-up.

With Marcus Trescothick having put his winter blues behind him and Andrew Strauss making such a huge impact on his entry into the Test arena, the top order is also in good nick.

Vaughan now has the luxury of being able to concentrate on bedding in at number four for the remainder of the summer.

Where England have really progressed of course in the past 12 months is in the quality of their bowling attack.

ENGLAND UNDER VAUGHAN Played 14 Tests Won 8 (1 with Trescothick as capt) Drawn 3 Lost 3

In the absence of the injured Simon Jones at Headingley, Steve Harmison again demonstrated his increasing value as a potent strike bowler.

Seven more wickets, to add to the eight he took at Lord's, mean he has now accrued 44 in his last seven Tests.

Harmison started the final morning with a woeful opening over but along with Matthew Hoggard, who also responded well after a disappointing start in his home Test, wasted no time skittling the remaining Kiwi resistance.

After Flintoff and Jones had wrested the match away from New Zealand on the fourth day, the bowlers sensed their opportunity on Sunday evening and took it with alacrity.

With Jones, when fit, and James Anderson if required, to come back in, England are now blessed with real strength in depth in the bowling department.

Vaughan will probably have a few sleepless nights in the coming weeks and months, but that will be more to do with his new-born daughter than his new-age team.

With another 12 months of fine tuning, they can start dreaming about taking on, and beating, the Aussies.