LONDON, Aug 19: Former Zimbabwe captain Duncan Fletcher says he wants to stay on as England coach for at least another three years.

“At this stage I’d really like to carry on,” Fletcher was quoted as saying in the Mail on Sunday.

“With the group of players we have now, our bases are covered and there is a lot of young talent around as well.

“As long as we don’t start messing around, I think English cricket is in for an exciting two or three years.”

Media speculation had been rife that Fletcher would quit English cricket when his contract expired in September 2003, but the 53-year-old appears to have changed his mind and says he would like to sign another two-year deal.

Since joining the side at the end of the 1999 season, Fletcher has forged an impressive record despite a 4-1 Ashes humiliation at home last year.

His successes include away series victories in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Fletcher’s side are also 1-0 up in the current four-match Test series against India.

With two Tests still to play, Fletcher is on course to improve his success rate with a team that had slumped to the bottom of the standings in the Test table when he took over.

“For me it is like building a house,” Fletcher added. “When I arrived there weren’t even foundations let alone walls. Now I genuinely believe that we are close to putting on the roof.”—Reuters