Fletcher absent for final act
Barbados - Duncan Fletcher has never been the most media-friendly of England coaches so it was little surprise that he did not attend .
Instead it was down to two of the England and Wales Cricket Board鈥檚 top 鈥渟uits鈥 to do the deed, with ECB chairman David Morgan flanked by director of cricket operations John Carr to furnish the details.
Of course, by the time the massed ranks of the media moved from the baking heat of Barbados to an air-conditioned yet anonymous ballroom at the Hilton hotel, all knew that Fletcher was to stand down.
Speculation over Fletcher鈥檚 future began during Saturday鈥檚 defeat to South Africa, which sealed England鈥檚 elimination from the World Cup, but my view at least was that he would have been too focused on the game to think through the details.
As it turned out, he made his intentions known to Carr on 10 April, the day before that tortuous victory over Bangladesh, and the subsequent delay was to wait for Morgan鈥檚 arrival in the Caribbean on Wednesday.
Fletcher has appeared more distracted than usual in the past few weeks. One colleague who is closer to Fletcher than most described him as 鈥渟pitting chips鈥 at journalists鈥 ability to criticise him in print while trying to be friendly in person.
His unwillingness to play the media game made it increasingly difficult to understand decisions and reduced the amount of sympathy many had for him when England began to lose.
A little surprisingly, the England team were not told of Fletcher鈥檚 departure until their Thursday training session, which began shortly after the news broke on 主播大秀 News 24 back in the UK.
The 主播大秀 Sport website鈥檚 will be giving his reaction on Friday but he sounded pretty down in the dumps when I spoke to him briefly after the announcement.
Not everyone will be sad to see Fletcher go, one writer expressing a widely held feeling when he lamented: 鈥淣o more icy stares over the toaster in the morning.鈥
Morgan would not be drawn into confirming the widely accepted supposition England Academy boss Peter Moores will take over in a caretaker capacity.
But the ECB chairman鈥檚 assertion someone will be in place within the next 48 hours makes it likely that person is already under contract, limiting the options.
Moores could be handed the job in a permanent capacity but the ECB will wait until the publication of the Schofield Review 鈥 expected around the third week of May 鈥 before making any commitments.
If they want to look elsewhere they will have to move quickly, as coaching posts at Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and New Zealand could all be vacant after the World Cup.
India鈥檚 Greg Chappell has stepped down while the other three incumbents must agree new contracts.
It is a shame that Morgan focused on England鈥檚 recent failings, apologising to fans and media for the World Cup showing, without running through Fletcher鈥檚 many achievements, including 14 victorious Test series.
Although a prepared statement from ECB chief executive David Collier was handed out, Morgan had to be asked to provide similar praise for Fletcher鈥檚 eight-year reign.
Perhaps Fletcher will make a final appearance before the cameras and dictaphones either before or after his final match in charge against West Indies on Saturday.
Perhaps he will decide, after enduring the media for eight years, he no longer has to.
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He's gone and that's the right decision. But I hope that when the dust settles it will be remembered how great the 2005 Ashes win really was. We beat better opposition largely through tactics. True, several results were pretty knife-edge and could easily have gone the other way. But the fact is we won for the first time in 18 years. Our failures, before and since, only serve to put the 2005 Ashes into their true context.
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I'm sad to see DF go. He rescued English cricket from soemvery dark days indeed. Maybe his time was up, however, but he'll be missed.
Thanks Duncs, you've been brilliant, you brought English cricket back.
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gosh, isn't it funny that someone should take offence when people suck up to him one day only to trash him the papers the next...Fletcher did do some good things for English cricket (winning the Ashes back was pretty unique), and journalists are so thick that they think coaching a cricket team is the same as coaching a football team. It isn't, as the nature of the game is about how individuals perform in their specific roles. I have doubted his selections but I have never doubted his cricket brain, and England will be lucky to get someone as good again (remember the ones before him? Now, they were really rubbish).
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Maybe the media need to look to themselves rather than criticising Duncan Fletcher: I must say as a cricket fan I find their behaviour and aggressive attitudes distasteful and distressing.
Whatever anybody says is wrong according to the media, and is subject to a forensic examination which is not expected of the reporters themselves, who hide behind their masthead. It happens with the players themselves. I have read the most atrocious comments about our cricketers, their county accents and their performance to camera.
Why should Duncan Fletcher cut his throat in public to give the media some satisfaction? The person who complains about his icy stare over the cornflakes might have previous here - you can only push someone so far........
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How fast we forget!!! WHEN will we English please start celebrating a little of our success. We would be in a worse position than we already are if not for this man, he has done a great deal and great job for National team cricket.
I say National team cricket cos he is not responsible for the counties, thats the ECB, they are the ones that need to be looked at and the poor poor handling of what talent we have in the county system. ECB should also look at the national team scheduling, its ludicrous, how in the world do you expect our players to perform at exceptional levels 12 months a year. THEY CAN"T, no one in any other country can either........oh wait, no other test playing nation expects their players to perform top level cricket 12 months a year. Funny when you think about it.
Live Fletch alone...........he is a CHAMPION of the sport and country. Graveney et al. stand up and take responsibility, and show this man the respect that he thoroughly deserves.
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I have enjoyed the world cup of cricket and I also enjoy the after show chats, but please tell me why Michael Atherton has the nerve to say that the minor teams, ie Ireland should not be in the super 8 as opposed to Englands "dream team". Do these guys never learn or do they just like falling flat on their faces!!
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We are too hard on our national teams and their managers. The media are particularly guilty here. No one demands that Fergusson or Benetez resigns if Man U or Liverpool loose a match, even less so the managers of lower ranked teams.
Both our football and cricket teams are currently 'lower ranked'. Managers and captains are not magic. We must get away from expecting them to win every match and berating the manager when they don't.
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Thanks Duncan, you've given English cricket fans a lot to cheer about over the last 7 or so years. I for one have enjoyed seeing England playing consistently competitive cricket, home and away, against some top opposition.
True, recent results have been appalling, and it is without doubt time to time to move on. Every senior manager has to change jobs to stay fresh; every company needs new blood to stay on top. I truly hope that you can remember the good times above the bad, as I believe the media and fans should be able to do, and not focus on the rather sad end to a proud management record with England.
Good luck with whatever you do next; I hope you enjoy your time off, and am sure that if England encounter one of your international teams in the future that you will give us a real run for our money.
And finally, media guys, please do not be so short sighted so as to write off Duncan's record and legacy to English cricket. He brought us a long way from the rabble he inherited, something for which we should be very grateful.
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What strikes me about Fletcher is how much regard he is held in by the players. Hussain defended him vigerously and with passion on TV earlier, and its not difficult to imagine others doing likewise. When you consider how poor we we were in 1999, he really did work wonders up to 2005, where, regardless of how close the games were, we actually undid and outplayed Australia. After that injuries prevented him ever having the same strength of team out and as Hussain pointed out, perhaps he did stick too stubbornly to those who bought home the goods in 2005, but it was rooted in a belief that showing faith in players would ultimately bring its rewards. I expect those knocking him then were those who knocked the merry go round of selections under Illingworth and co.
I rather hope he doesn't say much to the media on Saturday. In the words of another England coach, they'll write what they want anyway.
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right - now let's have some discipline in the England management, among the players, and on the pitch.
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Oh well, the Mucky Media have got their way.
Unfortunately any immediate replacement is likely to be worse, certainly in the short term, so these so-called Gentlemen of the Press will once again indulge in the orgy of criticism in which they wallow so happily.
Thanks for some great wins Duncan, and good luck in the future.
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The Unprofessional and Unethical Media (including Cricket Journalists) will eventually Undo every good thing that exist in every cricketing nation. The Armchair Experts (there are many of them) some of who in their playing days couldn't do anything better, today deride the players, captains, some coaches, et all...Highly Repugnant, these self righteous journalists - they are the scourge of anything good.
When will these Rascals Stop and let individuals, players, captains, coaches, nations do their job? Probably never since it will be too much for them if others succeed (Remember -- these guys cannot deliver anything useful other than mouthfuls).
End the Media Obsessions and You Could have the Beginning of Fun Sports....
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I've heard way too much about how the media doesn't like DF because he doesn't play the media game by the media's rules. So what? That to me sounds like a media too assured of its own self-importance. I lived for three years in Toronto and saw how the like of the Toronto Star reported on Raptors games (NBA) and Leafs games (ice hockey). I never saw anything as acidic as the English printed press in any respect over there. Whilst I lived there, the federal government of the time was embroiled in a sponsorship scandal. If that had been an English government, the newspapers would have torn them apart.
The English media has an idiot criticism thing going on. Real critical assessment points out areas the commentator feels are poor and offers solutions or possible improvements. Most English 'critical' comment merely tears down, rips apart and spits out. That is idiot critical comment to me.
The late great Frank Zappa came up with an apt quote a few years ago:
"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read."
One steo ahead of the game Frank. I wonder if he ever read the Sun...
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Look its difficult criticising Vaughan because he was/is such a delight to watch when batting well and ultimately cricket is about persuading us to watch.
And immediately after the South Africa match he was under unbelievable pressure.
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However he said 'We were hoping 220 to 230 to challenge SA and we were on course for that at 113 for 3 off 42 overs then we had the usual middle order collapse.''
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So Strauss was supposed to get out to get Pieterson in and another wicket was supposed to fall to let Flintoff in.
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That would give us two batsmen new to the crease. Australia 113 for 3 means you have batsmen already in prepared to accelerate. So after the wickets Vaughan was expecting 112 from seven overs from two new batsmen.
Thats 16 an over. Every time Pieterson and Flintoff get in.
That all says two things to me. One it smacks of a silly Vaughan v. Flintoff competition. 2. It propmts the question wouldn't it be better to be 160 for 4 say after 42?
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Well coach cannot perform on the field.....ts the plaers who have to play....
For this moment i blame players not the caoch.....what is not provided for players pls let me know????
Nasser hussian also said same thing in sky news that palers are responsible for these kind of failure...in place DF any one else also cant do aything.....if players do not erform....
DF have done lot for English cricket we should respect him n send on high note......
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BE POSITIVE. WRITE POSITIVE. THINK POSITIVE. BUILD ON THE GOOD THINGS LEFT BY FLETCHER AND HIS LEGACY, IMPROVE ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED AND LET US STOP BEING VINDICTIVE. ONLY THIS WAY CAN THE GAME GO FORWARD. ONE OF THE THE ROOTS OF THE PROBLEM OF ENGLISH CRICKET IS THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED PLAYING TEAM SPORTS AT SCHOOLS AND THEREFORE RAW TALENT WHICH CAN BE NURTURED IS DIFFICULT TO COME BY.
LET US NOT FORGET THIS TOO....
FROM ADVERSITY MUCH CAN BE LEARNT TO PREPARE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
FINALLY LET US NEVER FORGET IT IS A GAME, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE WINNERS AND LOSERS AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP SHOULD ALWAYS PLAY A PART IN THIS NOBLE GAME OF CRICKET.
THE IRISH SHOWED THIS BUT I SUPPOSE THEY WERE EXPECTED TO LOSE.
THANK YOU,
LEONIDAS LOS
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I think in a very short time, Duncan Fletcher will be remembered as the greatest England coach. He took over at a time when England were in a real mess and went on to achieve great things, not least the Ashes in 2005.
However, given what has happened over the winter, following on from a so-so summer, it is time for him to go.
Two decisions he may regret:
not sticking with Strauss as captain in Australia after the momentum he built in the team against Pakistan, and committing himself to picking the ashes 'heros' when they were not fit.
But, thanks Duncan and all the best!
David
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DF had to go. But the timing of Angus Fraser's article was poor: a classic piece of English sports journalism. Consider this tho': tally up the trophies of the two captains under Fletcher's regime (NH & MV). Now halve that number. Halve it again. And again. Once more. Divide it by two. You've still got more than all the former England captains stretching back to Mike Gatting.
Yes DF had to go. But the problems run much deeper than DF's faults. The Aussies should have been seen as just another scalp for a rampant England test side. Instead, we all thought it was time to put the pens down. English cricket arrived in 2000 and terminated in 2005. Even Flintoff's tour of India was not disastrous.
MBEs, OBEs, books upon books upon books. Every media angle covered. Star status. DF didn't manufacture this image.
Yes DF had to go. BUT: everytime some former England player or skipper turned 'journo' adds their predictable penny's worth, it leaves a taste of hypocrisy in my mouth. Each of them knew dark, lamentable times and performances.
DF has now looked in the mirror and acted accordingly on the image found there. He's not the only one who needs to do that. But at least he's done it.
Thanks for that golden run, Duncan Fletcher: memories of that impetuous England side, umbrella fields, steepling bounce, MV's drives thro' extra cover, demoralised opposition, reverse swing, Simon Jones' celebrations, Matthew Hoggard's pockets full of opening batsmen....Thanks for those memories
DF's successor should work to restore those times.
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DF had to go. But the timing of Angus Fraser's article was poor: a classic piece of English sports journalism. Consider this tho': tally up the trophies of the two captains under Fletcher's regime (NH & MV). Now halve that number. Halve it again. And again. Once more. Divide it by two. You've still got more than all the former England captains stretching back to Mike Gatting.
Yes DF had to go. But the problems run much deeper than DF's faults. The Aussies should have been seen as just another scalp for a rampant England test side. Instead, we all thought it was time to put the pens down. English cricket arrived in 2000 and terminated in 2005. Even Flintoff's tour of India was not disastrous.
MBEs, OBEs, books upon books upon books. Every media angle covered. Star status. DF didn't manufacture this image.
Yes DF had to go. BUT: everytime some former England player or skipper turned 'journo' adds their predictable penny's worth, it leaves a taste of hypocrisy in my mouth. Each of them knew dark, lamentable times and performances.
DF has now looked in the mirror and acted accordingly on the image found there. He's not the only one who needs to do that. But at least he's done it.
Thanks for that golden run, Duncan Fletcher: memories of that impetuous England side, umbrella fields, steepling bounce, MV's drives thro' extra cover, demoralised opposition, reverse swing, Simon Jones' celebrations, Matthew Hoggard's pockets full of opening batsmen....Thanks for those memories
DF's successor should work to restore those times.
Posted by: ralph brooker | April 20, 2007 08:57 AM
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Dave Richardson (17).
Good post.
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"It is a shame that Morgan focused on England鈥檚 recent failings, apologising to fans and media for the World Cup showing."
It's not a shame at all, Martin, it's only right that the head man should apologise for England's abject winter.
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I think that the media treatment of Duncan Fletcher is nothing short of a disgrace. Duncan has made a massive contribution to English cricket and the least he deserves is respect for himself and for what he has done for this country. The journalists who try to be friendly to his face whilst stabbing him in the back should be ashamed of themselves.
I suspect that the one failing that Duncan can be criticised for, is the loyalty to his players. I am convinced that he wanted to change the approach to one day cricket, but that to do so would have alienated key players - especially Michael Vaughan.
So I would like to publicly thank Duncan Fletcher for his contribution to English cricket and to wish him well for the future.
As for the next coach, I think that he will have to combine establishing respect from the players, but with a ruthlessness for selecting the right team for the job, rather than the best players. Is it for example a coincidence that England's only recent one day success, was when many of the big names were missing?
As for the World Cup failure, I would place the blame squarely on the players.
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Certainly echo the comments of a previous post, what have other England coaches ever achieved ?
I think some of failings attributed to DF were due to the defensive nature of the England players & the "closed shop" operated by ALL of English cricket rather than the coach.
Fletcher & some of the ECB have tried hard, but the development of grass roots cricket is a joke and is really only about benefiting the few "well off" clubs and helping local CDOs build CVs.
Wake up and face the truth instead of living in fairyland.
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I think DF has taken England as far as he could. In the end, I think he was trying hard to re-live the AShes win in 05. Hence the last ashes tour was a disaster waiting to happen. Poor selection, possibly cost England dearly!!
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As an Aussie, I don't really care who coaches England. But whoever ends up with the job needs to do something about their basic philosophy - for a long time, England have been far more focussed on not losing than they have on winning. That was obvious in the last Ashes series, especially in Adelaide, and the way they approach the first few overs of one-day games also reflects it. If you don't want to win, you won't !
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Dinesh (23) makes a very insightful point, the grass roots need to develop the stars of the future, CDO's, clubs, schools etc are not producing enough talent, could it be the lack of cricket on TV to attract kids to play?
Once attracted to the club game and taken on by counties then what? the county system should have begun to show the fruits of the two tier system now but its not happening yet, several teams moving up and down, loyalty?? (surely not!) is preventing the top division from raising the standard. Is the influx of Kolpak players a help or hinderance? certainly looking at county scores today some sides would have been out for DF is not to blame for slipping standards, he was responsible for us playing better than we should have done!
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Why is all the talk of the next coach being from overseas - why doesn't one of the highly paid former captains who are quick to dish out the criticism step forward and put something positive back into the game?
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sad to see him go but he had no choice really, to many players selceted and not in form.
also had to many players with to much dressing room authority and when this was addressed to select just one person out for such a punishment alway speaks of being desperate in view.
The ashes was a shambles and some of the selction too
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"It's not a shame at all, Martin, it's only right that the head man should apologise for England's abject winter."
Douglas, the problem is the timing not the comment. If this had been made before the Schofield report, so the ECB firstly apologise then say 'and here's how we're going to fix it', then fine. But when they apologise closely followed by 'and Duncan Fletcher has quit' it points to DF being the root cause of the problem when that's not entirely true. The ECB then walk away washing their hands of any responsibility. We need more cricket (more sport full stop) in schools but played with a competitive edge, make winning mean something and nothing for 2nd place.
DF did a lot of good things but made poor decisions recently and discipline has disappeared. However, we are severely lacking in depth once we have a few injuries and get past the top 15 players in the country. I'm all for filling the County Champs with overseas and Kolpaks to keep the money in, but on Test match days we should have also have a North, South, East & West competition (incl Celts) with only English qualified players, so basically the next 44 best England players competing against each other. Again make it fiercely competitive (no win, no fee) and make the next step up to Test level easier, plus giving the selectors a good choice of players.
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"Our failures, before and since, only serve to put the 2005 Ashes into their true context."
Wouldn't this seem to indicate that it was just a fluke?
;-)
(just stirring)
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