Vaughan Backs Fletcher Exit

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Vaughan - time right for Fletcher exit.

By Myles Hodgson, PA Sport Cricket Correspondent, Barbados

Michael Vaughan believes both England and Duncan Fletcher will benefit from his decision to end his eight-year reign as coach and begin a brave new era.

Fletcher's announcement that he will be leaving the post after Saturday's final Super Eight match against West Indies was swiftly followed by the appointment of Academy director Peter Moores as his successor.

But as England prepared to play for the final time under Fletcher - in a game which will also mark the final match of West Indian captain Brian Lara's illustrious career - Vaughan insists the emotion of the moment should be tempered by the knowledge it is the right time for both parties.

"It's been a funny few days and obviously the farewell of Duncan Fletcher is first and foremost in my mind," said Vaughan. "He's brought a tremendous amount to the team and a tremendous amount to me.

"I know all the players still have a very high regard for him but some good things have to come to an end eventually. I think it's the right time for us to have a change but it would be nice tomorrow to go out with a victory for Fletch.

"It's very sad but I think we all know that it is now time for a change and time to give Peter Moores a good go at the job and hopefully he'll have as much success if not more than Duncan Fletcher had."

Fletcher's fate was effectively sealed by England's inept display in Tuesday's nine-wicket defeat by South Africa, which ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

It followed an equally depressing exit from the ICC Champions Trophy last October and the humiliation of a 5-0 Ashes series whitewash during the dismal six months of the winter campaign.

"Eight years to be a coach at international level is a long time," stressed Vaughan.

"It's four Ashes series and two World Cups, it's a lot of cricket and I think he needs a fresh challenge and a fresh start.

"His coaching for me is the best I've ever worked with and I'm sure there are many other people around the world who will say he's one of the top coaches in the world.

"He's always coming up with new ideas. He's innovative, very forward thinking but like anything sometimes a change of voice or a change of personnel might just be what the team needs."

Vaughan revealed Fletcher's speech to the squad during Thursday's net practise, when he revealed his decision to resign, was an emotional time for all those involved.

He admitted: "After eight years you become like a family and you develop friendships and it's always a sad moment when you lose what I believe is an outstanding coach and an outstanding person.

"He came from a South African background and many thought he had to be an Englishman to do the job but I don't think I've know anyone care more for the England cricket team than the way Duncan Fletcher has."

Vaughan intends to speak to Moores about the challenge ahead in the next few days, but underlined the importance of the players showing the lead and getting England back to winning ways at both Test and one-day level.

"I think we need to sit down and discuss a strategy of what we think is the best way forward," said Vaughan.

"We've not played well in one-day cricket and we've lost our last five Test matches - if you look back to The Oval game against Pakistan it could have been six if it hadn't finished in silly circumstances.

"We have to make sure we get our game back in order and sit down and discuss selection strategies and I'm sure we'll be doing that over the next week or so."

England could blood several of the fringe players in the squad for their World Cup finale, with Stuart Broad and Liam Plunkett being considered while they are also talking about the possibility of tinkering with the batting order.

It is a desperate attempt to record an overdue success against major Test opposition - particularly in the last international game played by Lara.

"Brian's been an outstanding player and I'm sure it will add to the atmosphere in the ground," added Vaughan.

"It's a bit of a dead rubber but England v West Indies in Barbados in front of a full house for Fletcher's and Brian Lara's last game should be a great spectacle and hopefully we can produce a performance."

England (from): MP Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), IR Bell (Warwickshire), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), PD Collingwood (Durham), A Flintoff (Lancashire), RS Bopara (Essex), PA Nixon (Leicestershire, wkt), SI Mahmood (Lancashire) JM Anderson (Lancashire), MS Panesar (Northamptonshire), SC Broad (Leicestershire), EC Joyce (Middlesex), LE Plunkett (Durham).

West Indies (from): CH Gayle, DS Smith, S Chanderpaul, MN Samuels, RR Sarwan, BC Lara (capt), DJ Bravo, D Ramdin (wkt), DB Powell, CD Collymore, JE Taylor, KA Pollard, IDR Bradshaw.

Umpires: RE Koertzen (SA) & SJA Taufel (Aus).

Third Umpire: BF Bowden (NZ).

Match referee: RS Madugalle (SL).