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| August 13, 2006 | Sunday | Rajab 17, 1427 |
England will go all out for win: Fletcher
LONDON, Aug 12: Duncan Fletcher has urged England to adopt a ruthless approach when they take on Pakistan in their final cricket Test of summer next week at The Oval.
England coach has been delighted at his young side's displays to claim emphatic victories at Old Trafford and Headingley to seal series with one Test remaining.
But he wants his side – decimated by injuries to Andrew Flintoff (ankle), Michael Vaughan (knee), Simon Jones (knee) and Ashley Giles (hip) – to retain that intensity at The Oval next week and finish summer with a flourish.
“We'll definitely be going out to win at The Oval,” stressed Fletcher.”
We went through a period when we didn't lose a Test for a while and now we've won two and 3-0 would be a lot, lot better than 2-1. A scoreline of 3-0 sounds a lot better than 2-1. It's vital we keep on winning.”
With start of this winter's Ashes series just over three months away, another resounding victory would certainly send out a warning to Australia prior to this winter's series.
A similarly impressive performance to Old Trafford and Headingley could also go long way to ensuring those taking part also earn a place in squad for Ashes as selectors start to formulate their options for winter.
Despite Paul Collingwood's best attempts not to think too far ahead, with Ashes series starting in just over three months' time, he conceded players' thoughts are naturally drifting towards big event of winter.
Those players who have filled in for England's lengthy casualty list are most vulnerable, although nearly all of them have contributed this summer with Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Collingwood scoring centuries this season.
“It looks as selectors are going to have a major headache about deciding who does and doesn't play in Australia,” said all-rounder Collingwood.
Seamer Jon Lewis is one of those on fringes hoping to get his chance to impress at The Oval and is expected to be included in squad again when it is announced on Sunday.
Lewis has been 12th man for five of previous six Tests this summer and is likely to perform same duties again following Sajid Mahmood's superb display of four for 22 at Headingley.—Agencies
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