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| March 15, 2006 | Wednesday | Safar 14, 1427 |
Flintoff doing great job, says Fletcher
MOHALI, March 14: England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher says Andrew Flintoff is doing a “great job” as captain on the tour to India. Flintoff took charge when regular skipper Michael Vaughan and vice-captain Marcus Trescothick returned home.
“He’s got a very, very difficult job here. He’s an all-rounder — he’s got to bowl, bat and captain the side.
“It’s a huge amount of work that he’s got to do and he’s done very well with a very inexperienced side. There’s only one person over 30,” said Fletcher.
England went 1-0 down after losing second Test at Mohali by nine wickets.
They must win final game, starting on Saturday in Mumbai, to avoid a second successive series defeat, having been beaten 2-0 in Pakistan.
Fletcher said team’s lack of experience had cost them dear at Mohali.
“It’s a very difficult ask for these young guys. We’ve got four major players out and four new boys in side.
“There were periods when we did play well, but we just weren’t consistent enough. It’s always with young sides, as I’ve repeated on numerous occasions, about consistency. Experience tends to give you consistency that’s required.”
He is looking for more patience from batsmen in third Test after England’s hopes were again undermined by some loose strokes -– and some bad luck.
“It’s been shown on these wickets that people who go in there and really work at their innings and show a bit of patience get rewards.”
Former opener Geoff Boycott agreed improved batting is key to England’s chances in Mumbai.
“We rely so much on seam bowlers. If they get in game they can keep people down to reasonable totals.
“But we don’t have quality spin and that’s a factor in India –- they have Kumble — so therefore you have to match them in batting. I don’t think we do.”—Agencies
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