Duncan Fletcher

Duncan Fletcher Biography

Years before he, along with Nasser Hussain, lifted England from what seemed like a bottomless pit, Duncan Fletcher had made the most resounding of international debuts.

There was the quadruple-pressure of playing Australia in a World Cup contest, in the first match in the history of the nation as well as leading the side. Fletcher top-scored (69*), took most wickets (4 for 42), won Man of the Match, and led his side to victory.

Later in the tournament Fletcher scored an unbeaten 71 against the four-pronged West Indian attack. And India got away after being 17 for 5, thanks to Kapil Dev’s whirlwind 175*. He finished the tournament — and his career — with 191 runs at 48 and 7 wickets at 32 (and an economy of 4.40). In First-Class cricket his 4,095 runs came at 24 and his 215 wickets at 28.

A left-handed batsman who gave his best under pressure, Fletcher demonstrated excellent footwork against spinners. He was hardly quick, but could bowl probing out-swingers and a good off-cutter, bowled a good yorker, and had a knack of breaking partnerships.

He was not the only sportsperson in his family: his brother Allan played cricket for Rhodesia, while sister Ann led Zimbabwe women’s field hockey team to the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics, in 1980.

Fletcher played for Rhodesia in his early days. His 3 for 34 against Bermuda in the ICC Trophy final helped Zimbabwe qualify for the World Cup. Even at this stage he focused on fielding, and drafted in rugby players and baseball pitchers for practice sessions.

Fletcher later earned fame by helping devise Zimbabwe’s vehicle number-plate system. Then, at 36, with the clouds of the Robert Mugabe regime hovering in Zimbabwe, Fletcher left for Zimbabwe without a job or a home, with his family, and about $2,000.

He coached Western Province to the Currie Cup. This got him an offer from Glamorgan; he coached them to the Championship title after 28 years.

He replaced David Lloyd as England coach after the 1999 World Cup. Hussain and Fletcher started with a poor series in South Africa, but the tides turned with the regaining of the Wisden Trophy after 31 years. Around this period Fletcher also handpicked Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, and Andrew Flintoff, and helped resurrect Craig White.

England won consecutive series in Pakistan (Fletcher had introduced the ‘forward press’ to counter Saqlain Mushtaq) and Sri Lanka, being 0-1 down on both occasions. Hussain and Fletcher got Ashley Giles to bowl over the wicket to contain Sachin Tendulkar, drawing criticism from experts, most significantly Sunil Gavaskar.

A string of indifferent series followed before England beat West Indies 3-0 at their den and won 7 consecutive Tests at home. Fletcher was inducted into Britain’s Coaching Hall of Fame that winter. Soon afterwards England won a series in South Africa.

Then came the big win, in the 2005 Ashes, after 16 years of wait. Fletcher was honoured with an OBE along with the rest of the team and granted English citizenship. During the series Fletcher attracted some criticism for tweaking the rules: England substituted Simon Jones with Gary Pratt, the super-fielder from Durham, who ran out Ponting at Trent Bridge.

And then, despite the unavailability of Vaughan and Trescothick, England drew the series in India 1-1. Fletcher was lauded for selecting Shaun Udal, who played a crucial role in England’s win at Mumbai.

He quit after the 2007 World Cup, following which Hussain compared him with Alex Ferguson and José Mourinho.

Even the British media, who had called him “cranky”, “hard-nosed”, and “the man who never smiles”, was forced to admit his contribution.

He later coached India from 2011 to 2015. The selection drew flak from Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, among others. Unlike his tenure for England, Fletcher’s Indian stint was a mixed one.

Abhishek Mukherjee

Duncan Fletcher Batting & Fielding Averages

Career	M	In	R	NO	HS	Avg	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
Test	0	--	--	--		--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
ODIs	6	6	191	2	71*	47.75	289	66.09	0	2	14	0	--	--
T20s	0	--	--	--		--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
World Cup	6	6	191	2	71*	47.75	289	66.09	0	2	14	0	--	--

Duncan Fletcher Bowling Averages

Career	M	B	R	W	Avg	EC	SR	5WI	10WM	BBI	BBM
Test	0	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
ODIs	6	301	221	7	31.57	4.405	43.00	0	0	4/42	4/42
T20s	0	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
World Cup	6	301	221	7	31.57	4.405	43.00	0	--	4/42	4/42

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