The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Fletcher will not quit

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Fletcher will not quit

Sydney: Duncan Fletcher will not quit as England coach in the immediate wake of a humiliating 5-0 Test series loss in Australia, saying he believes he is the right person to shape a squad capable of reclaiming the Ashes.

The England Cricket Board announced a wide-reaching review of the squad and team management within hours of the 10-wicket loss in the fifth Test in Sydney on Friday.

Fletcher, a Zimbabwean who orchestrated the upset 2-1 Ashes series win over the Australians in England in 2005, appeared before a news conference on Saturday and declined to comment on any potential outcomes of the review.

Sticking to his plans

Despite some backlash against him in the British media, Fletcher said he would stick to his original plan and only reconsider his position after the World Cup in the Caribbean.

``I really believe I have the confidence of the players and the backing of the players and that's what is very, very important,'' he said.

Asked if he had the confidence of England's cricket administration, he replied: ``You'll have to ask those people.''

There has been harsh criticism at home of Fletcher and his coaching staff, of Andrew Flintoff for his defensive style of captaincy and of most players, with former England captains saying the squad is too pampered. Fletcher said despite being the first in 86 years to be whitewashed in a five-Test Ashes series, his England squad was in better shape than the 2003 tourist who lost the first four Tests before salvaging a win in Sydney.

Better position

``We're in a better position than we were the last time we were here when we lost 4-1,'' he said.

``There's a young group of cricketers here who performed at the highest level in other conditions. I just feel they just need to play together as a unit for longer.

``Even though they lost 5-nil, they were competitive ... they do have a belief they can do it.''

Fletcher said there was no major overhaul of the team needed and that the rebuilding of English cricket had started with this tour, when the squad was without regular captain Michael Vaughan, opener Marcus Trescothick and paceman Simon Jones. ``To some degree it's a rebuilding exercise, these youngsters are trying to get the experience to beat a side of this calibre,'' he said. ``They'll learn from it, that's what is important.

``We took time to build a young side to go through and win the Ashes — you just don't build a side like that overnight.''

Closing the gap

With Warne and Glenn McGrath, the No. 1 and No. 3 leading Test wicket-takers of all time, now retired and England having players returning from injury, Fletcher said his side had the potential to close the gap.

Australia has not lost a Test series at home since 1992-93 and has not lost to England at home in 20 years.

Fletcher left speculation over Flintoff's tenure as captain wide open by saying the load on the all-rounder was enormous, particularly with an inexperienced squad and without much first-class captaincy experience.

Vaughan will join the squad for the upcoming limited-overs series involving Australia and New Zealand and could return as captain. The series begins on Friday when England plays Australia in Melbourne.

Fletcher said the limited-overs series would be another challenge for his beleaguered squad. — AP

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