Former England coach David Lloyd has affirmed that New Zealand will be handed a 3-0 whitewash in the forthcoming Test series from May 15.

Lloyd said England will win with or without Andrew Flintoff.

"England are too strong in every facet. How much of a threat do New Zealand pose? None," Lloyd was quoted as saying to the Daily Mail.

"They don't play enough Test cricket and it shows. They do well in the shorter forms of the game, but when it comes to five-day cricket, they struggle. Their coach says it is going to be very tough and I think he's right. Stephen Fleming was the class batsman in their side and he's retired.

"I back Michael Vaughan's men to win 3-0... weather permitting!

Lloyd held his reservations on bringing back Andrew Flintoff after a fourth ankle operation.

"If he is fully fit he should be picked. But only if he's fully fit. His bowling gets him into a four-man attack. If I was coach I'd bat him at eight," Lloyd said.