KEY POINTS:
John Bracewell wasn't exactly in danger of understatement yesterday when he suggested the World Cup hadn't been a great one for coaches.
Speaking after Duncan Fletcher's snap resignation and that of India's Greg Chappell earlier in the month, the New Zealand gaffer was moved to observe the fine line walked by today's international coaching fraternity.
Fletcher, whose England test side captured the imagination of the world while winning the 2005 Ashes and then became a laughing stock a year later in Australia, announced his decision to walk the plank after his one-day team failed to make the semifinals.
Chappell saw the writing on the wall after India were turned over in pool play by Bangladesh, leading to their early elimination and a hammer-blow for a tournament that was relying heavily on their presence.
And that's not even touching on the shock turn of events last month when Pakistan's Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room, apparently murdered - after his side were effectively knocked out of the World Cup by lowly Ireland.
"World Cups put pressure on coaches and a lot of us have their jobs up for grabs at the end of this tournament, or have fallen by the wayside already," said Bracewell.
But he once again refused to discuss his future with New Zealand.
"My contract comes up for renewal at the end of this tournament, the same as everybody else, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
"I'll leave it until after the tournament because I don't want anything to distract me or our team from the job at hand."
Australian captain Ricky Ponting was a little more forthcoming on Fletcher's sticky end, saying the former Zimbabwe international could be satisfied with his effort.
Ponting said the Fletcher-schooled England test team had been one of that country's best for a long time, that the 58-year old had been popular, and that he'd been responsible for a dramatic lift in the side's fortunes.
Fletcher took over from David (Bumble) Lloyd after England were humiliated at their own World Cup in 1999 - knocked out in the first round, before the tournament song had been released. His test team were then humbled at home by New Zealand.
But Ponting said the Harare-born former left-hand batsman, who enjoyed a golden run through the 2004 and 2005 seasons, didn't deserve to be pilloried after the latest setback.
"The England team under his coaching achieved a lot of good things so he's obviously done a lot of things right," said Ponting. "I think he could walk away being pretty happy with what he achieved with that England team. They caused a huge upset winning the Ashes in'05, and he took them to number two in the world.
"I've often heard a lot of the players liked the way he operated, so he can be happy with what they have done."
The impending vacancy - England have still to play their tournament swansong against the West Indies tomorrow - means Bracewell will have another option should he choose not to reapply for the New Zealand job.
India have appointed only a caretaker in Ravi Shastri, Pakistan are talking to John Wright and Leicester coach Tim Boon, and England are reportedly hoping to woo Sri Lankan boss Tom Moody or National Cricket Academy director Peter Moores.
Fletcher's position is said to carry a £350,000 (nearly $942,000) a year salary - well beyond what New Zealand or Sri Lanka could offer Bracewell or Moody.
