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PERTH - England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher has defended his side's Ashes preparation and team selections amid a backlash of criticism that might cost him his job.
Defeat in the first three tests to lose the Ashes to Australia has spurred anger in England but Fletcher yesterday backed his side's build-up to the tour and again stood by contentious selections such as making Andrew Flintoff captain and overlooking spinner Monty Panesar.
But he did hint at disappointment over the loss of bowling coach Troy Cooley and opening batsman Marcus Trescothick, just two problems to plague the English tour.
The Zimbabwean is under pressure to retain his position beyond next year's World Cup and says he will decide in the next six months whether he wants to extend his seven-year tenure. " I'll make up my own mind. I'll have a look at where I've been and where I want to go and will continue in that way."
Fletcher met England management in the wake of Monday's 206-run loss in the third test in Perth but was adamant he still wanted to continue coaching the side.
"I speak to the players and I still have their confidence," he said. "They still come to me on numerous occasions about tactics and I've got the respect of them and that's very, very important."
Cooley's rapport with England's fast bowlers was a major factor in the 2005 Ashes triumph but, when he and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could not agree on a new contract, Cricket Australia poached him.
Australia yesterday named an unchanged squad for the fourth test starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day. All-rounder Andrew Symonds retained his place with seamer Mitchell Johnson, 12th man in Perth.
Australian papers climbed into the tourists with the Sydney Morning Herald leading the charge with a heading, "Now for a 5-nil drubbing", on the front page.
- AAP
