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Former England coach's revelations in new book
Fletcher - Flintoff let me down
Cricinfo staff
October 27, 2007
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Have your say on Fletcher's comments
Duncan Fletcher says Andrew Flintoff "let him down" with his drinking at the World Cup. Fletcher left his job as England coach following the team's showing in the Caribbean in April, where they didn't progress past the Super Eights.
Flintoff was one of six players fined after drinking in a nightclub after losing to New Zealand and 48 hours before playing Canada. But attention focussed on Flintoff who fell off a pedalo in the early hours of the morning.
Flintoff, who had already been warned about his conduct during the disastrous Ashes of 2006, was subsequently stripped of the vice captaincy.
Fletcher has now revealed his thoughts about the matter in his new autobiography, Behind the Shades.
"I've supported a lot of players," he wrote, "and I supported Andrew but then he drank again at the World Cup after what had happened in Australia while I was taking a pasting.
"If he does ring me when he sees what I have written I will say, 'At the end of the day, Fred, you let me down in an area that you had real control over'."
Fletcher also received retrospective criticism, along with the England management, for making Flintoff captain ahead of the batsman Andrew Strauss. Fletcher, however, remains unrepentant, arguing that Flintoff needed the captaincy to curb his behaviour.
"I don't regret making him captain. The problem was, in the absence of Vaughan, there were so many unknowns.
It's fascinating to wonder how good Strauss might have been as captain. But an imponderable is, how bad might Fred have been with the whole drinking thing if he hadn't had the responsibility of the captaincy? And would he have taken Steve Harmison with him?"
Fletcher has now set his sights on making a return to county coaching. He had previously worked with Glamorgan before England. He had previously expressed an interest in working with another international side. "I spent two years in county cricket and I'd like to do that again.
"I think I have become a hell of a better coach since my time at Glamorgan and I know how to handle situations better. Having gained the experience I gained with England, it would be nice to go back and put into practice what I perceive to be missing in county cricket."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Cricket's cosy what goes on in the dressing room stays there etc has hidden failure and poor behavior of international sportsman for decades. When the guys in the 70s, 80s and even 90s were getting paid alot less the pedalos were accepted. Nowadays the media profile is far higher plus these guys are paid very well - some arent far off earning £1million a year- with this goes huge responsibility. If Fletcher lifting the lid on Flintoffs antics means embarrasment for him and therefore means he more professional & repsonsible in his approach if he gets back on the field then thats only a good thing. Fletchers mistake extends to supporting flintoff too much in the hope faith would be repaid with performance and strong leadership -- Fred should be ashamed of himself that he let his coach down in both respects. He seemed more interested in socialising than bullying the Aussies on the park. I cannot imagine his behaviour would be tolerated if he was an aussie - he'd be on the next plane.
Posted by Roscoe on (October 28 2007, 22:40 PM GMT)Mr Fletcher, what a chook you are! You actually selected someone to captain an international team because it was the only way to keep his drinking under control?? That's asking for failure, isn't it? Stop criticising everyone else for the Ashes drubbing. If you're a coach, the first thing you need in a captain is someone you can trust - to say nothing of your other selection errors. Does your book say, "I got it horribly wrong in 2006-07"? Only if you can admit that can you then take the deserved credit for getting it right in 2005. Maybe this blame shifting thing is why the cricket world has lost its respect for you.
Posted by emmersonne on (October 27 2007, 21:27 PM GMT)Gosh, well thankyou for clearing that up, Duncan, there was me thinking it was your terrible selection policy, inability to tell the difference between a test and an ODI, ignorance of county cricket, belief that Jones was a better 'keeper than Read, belief Giles was a better spinner than Panesar and inability to select a national side to the standard of the average UK sports fan that let you down - and all this time it was good old Fred, how terrible. That was sarcasm, by the way, just in case your talents for spotting it are akin to to talents for spotting decent 'keeepers, spin bowlers and haircuts which don't make you look like an overweight toad. Keep smiling, Duncan, let's hope your face doesn't crack under the strain!
Posted by carib on (October 27 2007, 18:43 PM GMT)Flintoff should never have been made captain. His dress demeanor is even worsethan his cricket. Captains should be able to set standards. Making him captian to contain his drinking shows that they knew his drinking was out of control anyway. The ashes result of 06-07 speaks for itself.