Eight year innings ends

Duncan Fletcher announced his resignation today after eight years as England coach. It was a long reign, in which he took the Test team from the bottom of the pile to number two in the rankings. When he took over in 1999, England had reached a low point loosing to New Zealand and were booed off the field at the Kennington Oval. It's ironic how the next time the boos came, it was at the Kensington Oval, signifying the end of his reign.

There is no doubt that he brought the team great success over a number of years, with England beating every Test nation and reaching its greatest hour by capturing the elusive Ashes in 2005.That should have been the beginning of a new dawn, of seriously challenging Australia to the number one position, instead it started a stark decline. The wheels started to come off since then with injuries to key players,brutal white wash in the Ashes and disastrous One Day form, which has ultimately been the reason for Fletcher's departure. Focus has always been given to Test matches, with a total lack of interest and planning in the One Day game, which has been shown up in the World Cup.

Everyone has a shelf life, however good they are, and it is no different for Fletcher. The team needs an injection of new blood, fresh ideas and a general shake up in the whole set up. There is speculation of who will take up the reigns. David Morgan, Chairman of the ECB, was being predictably cagey in the press conference today to announce the news of Fletcher's departure. Reading between the lines, it seems this change was anticipated, be it either enforced or voluntary. It seems that the ECB have a fairly good idea who they want and are in talks with the yet unknown party. There are a few coaches on the market at the end of the World Cup like Dav Whatmore and Tom Moody, with Moody being touted as the man along with home grown Peter Moores, England Academy Director.

The usually inscrutable and stony faced Fletcher will be emotional leaving the post but he can look back at his eight year innings and feel quite satisfied with his achievements.