Shastri: Fletcher a respected fatherly figure

India

New director of cricket Ravi Shastri has reiterated India's intention to retain head coach Duncan Fletcher.

New director of cricket Ravi Shastri has reiterated India's intention to retain head coach Duncan Fletcher.

Shastri was appointed as Fletcher's superior after last month's three-one Test series defeat to England – and oversaw a prompt turnaround in the subsequent five ODIs, which India won by the same margin.

"Fletcher is the coach. He looks over the handling of various things including little, little stuff. He is tremendous. He would have done over a 100 Tests as a coach, which is massive," <i>ESPNcricinfo</i> quoted Shastri as saying.

"He is very good. He is technically very sound. He is a solid character. He is respected. He is a fatherly figure. Let the media say what they want. I have told you what I thought of Fletcher. I will go back and speak with the BCCI."

Fielding coach Trevor Penney and bowling coach Joe Dawes, meanwhile, were "given a break" for the six limited-overs fixtures in the United Kingdom. Erstwhile all-rounder Sanjay Bangar and ex-fast bowler Bharat Arun were hired as assistant coaches, while former first-class cricketer Ramakrishnan Sridhar filled the void left by Penney.

"All three of them have done an excellent job in the short period they have been given. I have to go back and sit with the BCCI to discuss what will happen in the long term," added Shastri.

The Indians have been pooled with Pakistan, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, West Indies, Ireland and Zimbabwe at next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Their first fixture will be against the Pakistanis at the Adelaide Oval on 15 February.

"My job was to be with the team for the ODI series. They have won it. I want to let that sink. I will return to India and then think about the future," concluded Shastri.

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