Fletcher tells of pleasures and pains as England coach

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Apr 22 (Reuters) Coach Duncan Fletcher today highlighted the frustrations and pleasures of his past eight years in the England job and said he was ready to step back into cricket immediately if possible. The 58-year-old Zimbabwean told a news conference he was open for any coaching offer after his spell with England ended in disappointment and boos from fans with a second-round exit at the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Asked when he would be ready to take on a new challenge, Fletcher answered: ''Tomorrow, I reckon.'' ''I do need a break. I probably need a month and then I'm sure my wife will be trying to kick me out of the house.'' He said there had been no interest in his services yet despite vacancies in several leading cricketing nations, including Pakistan, but insisted he was not in danger of losing his inspiration.

''I've got ideas, I think I can help,'' he said. ''I really feel that as far as coaching is concerned I am still forward-thinking, I can think out of the box.'' Fletcher, who tendered his resignation after England's World Cup exit was sealed following a nine-wicket defeat by South Africa on Tuesday, said ''personal reasons'' had sparked the decision but did not elaborate.

A 5-0 Ashes drubbing by Australia earlier in the season and the World Cup failure had left his position untenable.

He felt his legacy, however, was safe.

''One thing you can say is that when I got the job not many people wanted it. Now everyone's clamouring for it. So that's probably a good indication,'' he said.

The highlight of his tenure from 1999 was a 2-1 Ashes home series win over Australia in 2005, England's first success for 18 years.

REBUILDING PHASE Fletcher guided them to second in the test standings behind Australia but that success was not replicated in the one-day game. He said there were good reasons for that.

''We were more consistent in test match cricket because we managed to keep that side longer together. Always at the end of the test match series we had our injuries and we wanted to rest key players.

''As soon as you disrupt sides you have a problem and it takes time to regroup.

''We've seen it in football, great football sides lose a few players, it takes three or four years to rebuild that side and we were in a rebuilding phase, it's a simple as that.'' Fletcher felt England had the foundations to rebuild under new coach Peter Moores and skipper Michael Vaughan.

''We are the youngest side in world test cricket, not only in caps but in age to some degree,'' he said.

''I thought this World Cup was a bit early for them. It could take up to a year but who knows, they suddenly could put it together in six months. I'd still be a little patient with them.

They've got a lot of learning to do.'' As for a quick remedy to England's problems, Fletcher's solution was: ''Play less cricket.

''I just think that's the way to go. It's been proven in the rest of the world. Australia and South Africa (World Cup semi-finalists) play less cricket,'' he said.

''South Africa were told they would take 10 years to get back into international cricket after isolation. All they did was play eight first-class games a year.

''From the first ball they bowled they were probably rated as one of the top sides in world cricket.'' REUTERS SHB KP2236