After fifties from Rahmat and Omarzai, Afghanistan lost 6 for 43 to collapse to 266 all out

Madushka Balasuriya14-Feb-2024Sri Lanka made light work of a potentially tricky target of 267, running it down in just 35.2 overs as they completed a dominant seven-wicket win in the third and final ODI in Pallekele, and with it secured a 3-0 whitewash of the series.Pathum Nissanka recorded his second century in three games to become the highest run-scorer in a three-match series for Sri Lanka with 346 runs. Here he racked up a 101-ball 118, and in the process became the fastest Sri Lankan to 2000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in 52 games – 11 games quicker than next fastest Upul Tharanga.But for much of his innings, Nissanka was content to play the supporting role as Avishka Fernando broke the spine of the chase during a belligerent 66-ball 91. Having offered up his customary early chance – an inside edge on 10 that Ikram Alikhil not only failed to hold on to, but one that ended up injuring his finger and ruling him out of the game entirely – Avishka proceeded to punish the Afghans in an innings that included 10 fours and five sixes.Afghanistan did themselves few favours, straying short of a length for four of those five sixes as Avishka disdainfully picked them up over the leg side. His mistimed drive to extra cover saw him fall nine runs short of a fourth ODI ton, but by then Sri Lanka had piled on 173 runs – their second 150-plus opening stand of the series.The onslaught though only continued following his dismissal as Nissanka duly upped his scoring rate and Kusal Mendis joined in on the festivities. Their stand of 78 came off just 55 deliveries, though neither was able to see the chase through to the finish, falling in quick succession.That honour went to Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who ran down the 14 runs with little fuss as Sri Lanka won with 88 balls to spare.Afghanistan for their part will rue a missed opportunity. Despite fifties from Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai – and a blazing start from Rahmanullah Gurbaz – they lost 6 for 43 at the end to be bowled out for 266.With the series wrapped up, Sri Lanka had brought in Dunith Wellalage and Akila Dananjaya for Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. On a drier-than-usual surface, the pair proved able deputies and produced figures of 2 for 38 and 2 for 54 respectively. Asitha Fernando grabbed a pair as well, with Pramod Madushan being the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 45 in what was a well-rounded bowling display from the hosts.In all it proved to be a frustrating outing for the Afghan batters, who were unable to build on a succession of promising starts. When Gurbaz struck Madushanka for four consecutive boundaries in the first over of the match, it seemed that Afghanistan were set to make amends for their poor batting effort in the last game. Sri Lanka however reeled in the visitors well, with just 65 runs allowed in the opening powerplay.Pramod Madushan showed his death-over wares•AFP/Getty ImagesWellalage and Madushan impressed during this period, giving away just 23 runs between them, and in turn made up for Madushanka’s uncharacteristic lack of control. The bowlers were also aided by some solid ground fielding, highlighted by Avishka’s excellent pick-up and throw to run out Ibrahim Zadran – a drop in the slips by Asalanka the very next ball off Gurbaz was a rare error in the field.Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi had spoken before the match about the need to put on more partnerships, and in this respect Afghanistan delivered. Following an opening stand of 39, there were partnerships of 57, 58 and 57 for the second, fourth and fifth wickets respectively. Where they faltered however was in capitalising on these platforms.Gurbaz, despite his fast start, was not able to keep up his scoring rate and fell sweeping – bowled around his legs – for an ultimately laboured 48 off 57. Shahidi followed shortly after, edging a Dananjaya googly to slip.This brought Rahmat and Omarzai together and the pair sought to rebuild. Between the 20th and 30th overs they scored at a hair under run-a-ball to keep the scoring rate touching six an over, but just as they might have been looking to accelerate Rahmat was trapped leg before looking to sweep Wellalage.While this did not halt Afghanistan, it did delay any potential period of acceleration. Omarzai and Ikram Alikhil proceeded to put on the third fifty-plus stand of the innings between the 30th and 40th overs, but then once more just as Afghanistan were on the cusp of upping the ante Sri Lanka struck. Alikhil was surprised by a Wellalage delivery that ripped back in from wide outside off to clip the outside of off stump.From this point on Sri Lanka barely gave the opposition a sniff, with just 42 runs given away from the 40th over onwards. Madushan, Asitha and Dananjaya loomed large in this period, with the two fast bowlers sharing the last five wickets between them to close out the Afghan innings.

Bayern Munich may be open to selling former Premier League midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, just 12 months on from his arrival from Fulham.

• Palhinha may be surplus to requirements at Bayern
• Joined German champions last summer
• Arsenal & Tottenham learn price tag

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Palhinha may be on the way out of the Allianz Arena for a fraction of the €56 million (£48m/$65m) price Bayern paid Fulham for his services last summer. Having made just seven Bundesliga starts in a disappointing debut campaign, the report states that the 30-year-old could depart the German champions for somewhere between €25m (£22m) to €30m (£26m) this summer.

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  Sensational reports revealed that Arsenal made an attempt to sign Palhinha prior to the Club World Cup, which did not come off. The Gunners have since signed Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard in midfield so it is unknown whether they are planning a return for the Portugal international, while rivals Tottenham Hotspur reportedly view him as a potential replacement for Yves Bissouma and may make a move of their own.

• WHAT PALHINHA SAID

  Palhinha said of the speculation: "I have a contract for three more years, so I’ll report for duty on July 29, which is when we start this pre-season. As I’ve said several times, and it’s been a recurring question, I have three more years on my contract.

  "I don’t know what will happen, but I’m at a great club, as I’ve always said. Obviously, it hasn’t been an easy year, but as soon as the season starts, I’m very motivated to prove my worth once again at a very special club, a huge club."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PALHINHA?

  The player may yet be convinced by a potential return to England, particularly if one of the north London giants come calling. Palhinha was one of the top defensive midfielders stats-wise in Europe during his time at Fulham, leading all players in the top-five leagues for tackles in both of his two seasons at Craven Cottage. His qualities would no doubt be welcomed back in the Premier League if a move were to materialise.

England made history off the pitch as well as on it at Euro 2025, with a huge surge in renewed interest back home.

Euro 2025 final viewing figures revealedMost watched TV event of 2025BBC & ITV each broadcast the game liveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

England's involvement in Sunday night's Euro 2025 final against Spain was the most watched television event of the year so far, with the game drawing in a peak audience of 16.2 million people across ITV and BBC platforms. Between the broadcasters, an average of 12 million watched the final from whistle to whistle. There was a 75-25% split in favour of the BBC, although ITV's share was an increase of five percentage points on what it had been two years earlier for the 2023 World Cup final.

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ITV had previously recorded its highest rating of the year for the broadcast of England's semi-final victory over Italy, which peaked at 10.2 million across all devices. Even more people, this time with a choice of channels/online platforms due to the simultaneous screening, tuned in for the final to watch the Lionesses retain the trophy they previously won in 2022.

DID YOU KNOW?

This Lionesses squad is the first senior England team to win a major international trophy on foreign soil, with the previous Euro 2022 and 1966 men's World Cup triumphs both coming at home. England are also now the joint second most successful country in the history of the Women's Euros, alongside Norway (also two wins), and behind only Germany (8 wins).

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR THE LIONESSES?

Having been invited to 10 Downing Street for a reception hosted by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner on Monday afternoon, the squad will parade the trophy at an official victory celebration in central London on Tuesday. Players will have time off for the next few weeks, although WSL sides have already started pre-season preparations for 2025-26.

Teenage left-arm spinner worked hard on her batting over winter to strengthen strings to her bow

Valkerie Baynes19-Apr-2024

Sophia Smale ended last season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on a personal high and begins this one with big ambitions.A half-century as opener and two wickets for Western Storm, albeit in a losing cause against Thunder, came immediately off the back of a 30-ball 32 batting at No. 8 and 2 for 38 in another defeat, to Central Sparks. But it was the culmination of some hard work on her batting technique after returning from South Africa as part of England’s Under-19 Women’s side which finished runners up to India at the inaugural age group T20 World Cup.”That 50 was probably a big score,” Smale told ESPNcricinfo while on tour with England U19s in Sri Lanka last month. “It was also just a big point to prove. I came back up the order and then I think a lot of people weren’t sure and almost thought of me as middle order. So I definitely think that was a good time score runs.”I’m well aware at the minute I’m seen as a bowler and that’s fine with me, but if someone said ‘what do you want to be in the future?’ I want to be a batter that bowls left-arm spin – and I’m not talking part-time, left-arm spin – I’m talking a batting allrounder hopefully. That’s the ambition.”Related

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In Sri Lanka for a tri-series with the hosts and Australia Under-19s, she took five wickets across three T20s, including 3 for 19 against Australia as England topped the table. England lost both their 50-over matches, with Smale taking three wickets and scoring 33 runs in all.After an eye-catching season for Oval Invincibles as a 17-year-old in the 2022 Women’s Hundred, where she took five wickets at an average of 21.60 and economy rate of 7.20, she returned last year with eight wickets at 18.25 and 6.25. She is relishing the prospect of being reunited with some of the biggest names in the game, which will this year include prolific Sri Lanka opener and captain Chamari Athapaththu at Invincibles.At Western Storm, she has taken the chance to pick the brain of England captain Heather Knight and, although they’ve not discussed senior international prospects, Smale plans to be the sort of player “dominating” domestic cricket that Knight called for ahead of this weekend’s RHFT opening round.”I feel like you’ve probably got to step up to England A before you go to England, so I want to be in England A, it’s something I’m aspiring to do now,” Smale said. “That’s the first stepping stone and I guess dominating domestic cricket will help me do that. If I’m putting in the performances with the bat and ball, they can’t ignore that.”I’m hoping to play for England, that’s obviously my goal, what my always dream has always been… but I also know there’s a few pretty good left-arm spinners knocking about in women’s cricket at the minute in England so it’s going to be pretty tough, that’s why I think batting is really important as well.”The importance of having a strong domestic season was emphasised this week when the ECB announced the eight teams which will play at the top level of a restructured competition from 2025. Somerset, who provide players to Storm, were one of those eight teams while neighbouring Gloucestershire were not and another feeder county, Glamorgan in Smale’s native Wales, will have to wait until at least 2027 for inclusion in the top flight. That means players from all regions are competing for fewer places at the highest level from next year and may have to move.But, before the successful team bids were announced, Smale said it was a “great time” to be a female cricketer in England and Wales, so much so that she recognised the opportunity she had upon finishing school to pursue cricket as a career.”I finished my A Levels last year and decided this is my dream, I’ve got to put everything into it,” Smale said. “I was lucky… my last year of school I was already on contract, so I just sort of walked into training straight away knowing I was on a contract.”I decided I really wasn’t set on doing anything anyway at university. Maybe if I was set on something I would’ve, but I just think you’ve got one shot, you’ve got to give it your all. You’ve got to give it every hour of your day. My motto is always, don’t look back and regret you didn’t put the work in, so that’s why it’s really important that I focus on my cricket at this moment in time.”

Geoff Allardice is understood to have discussed potential changes to SLC’s constitution with president Wickremesinghe

Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Jan-2024ICC CEO Geoff Allardice has met with Sri Lanka’s new sports minister, as well as the country’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe, during a brief visit undertaken to gain a better understanding of the political situation in the country as it relates to cricket administration. In November, the ICC imposed a suspension on Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership, and subesequently stripped the country of its hosting rights of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup.Following his meeting with Allardice, sports minister Harin Fernando posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the pair had had a “constructive discussion and a way forward for SLC”. Subsequent to that meeting, Allardice had also met President Wickremesinghe, with whom he is understood to have discussed potential changes to SLC’s constitution.Related

• Sri Lanka Cricket suspended by ICC board

• ICC shifts Men's Under 19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa

Allardice will now report his findings back to the ICC’s board, which is due to meet at the end of March, and are likely to have the matter of SLC’s membership on their agenda.The ICC’s suspension of SLC had officially been predicated on perceived government interference. On November 6, previous sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe had sought to sack the entire SLC board, but another arm of Sri Lanka’s government – the judiciary – essentially reversed that decision on the following day, issuing a stay order on the minister’s gazette.Several days later, however, the ICC’s board suspended SLC at the behest of SLC’s own officials, who were at the time at serious odds with then-sports minister Ranasinghe. They had requested the suspension as a means of staving off further interference.With that minister now sacked, and a minister palatable to SLC now in place, board members have been internally confident SLC will be reinstated as a full member at the next board meeting.This is the second trip to Sri Lanka by an ICC executive to discern the nature of Sri Lanka’s politics’ intersection with cricket. In mid-2023, ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja came to Sri Lanka to investigate potential government interference. On that occasion Khwaja is understood not to have found immediate evidence to suspend the board.

Alana King and Heather Graham nearly bowled CA Green to victory over CA Gold in the red-ball fixture in Adelaide as the bowlers had a say on the final day in a match that had previously been dominated by the bat, including a double century for Georgia Voll.The game, aimed at providing more red-ball exposure, ended in a draw with CA Gold having been set 265 after dismissing Green for 259. They were 173 for 7 with Emma de Broughe, who scored a century in the first innings, unbeaten on 86 after King and Graham had shared seven wickets to run through the middle order.The first two days at Karen Rolton Oval had been heavily in favour of the batters as Voll hit an unbeaten 200 from 238 balls for CA Green which was followed by centuries for de Broughe, who was named Young Player of the Year at this year’s CA awards, and Nicole Faltum.”I haven’t faced a red ball since I was 12,” Voll, who averaged 41.72 in this season’s WNCL, said after the opening day. “It was nice to get the opportunity to face a red ball and face the girls for a long period of time and test my skills.”I didn’t want to change the way I play too much because I’ve been pretty happy with the way I’ve been playing in the WNCL in the back end of the year. So I wanted to play the same style but just do it for longer.”Late on the second day, Gabby Sutcliffe claimed three wickets to open up the contest and on the final morning Darcie Brown made further inroads including Voll for 56. When Brown removed Maddy Darke for a duck three balls later, Green were 104 for 5 and only ahead by 109. King and Chloe Piparo, who scored a half-century in each innings, extended the advantage with King eventually being last out for 81.King, who will head to Bangladesh on Saturday with the Australia squad, was then among the wickets in the second innings while Graham helped give CA Green a chance of victory when she removed Sianna Ginger and Amanda-Jade Wellington.

Australia allrounder requested to be left out against Sunrisers Hyderabad in order to get a “mental and physical break” after a tough start to the IPL

Hemant Brar16-Apr-20242:43

Maxwell: ‘Good time to get a mental and physical break’

Glenn Maxwell has elected to take a break from the IPL to refresh himself physically and mentally after requesting Royal Challengers Bengaluru management pick someone else in his place for the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.Maxwell has been struggling for runs in IPL 2024. Before Monday’s game, he had scored only 32 runs in six innings at an average of 5.33. There were speculations that he might have sat out because of a thumb injury but that was not the case.”For me, personally, it was a pretty easy decision,” Maxwell said after RCB’s sixth defeat in seven matches. “I went to Faf [du Plessis] and the coaches after the last game and said I felt it was probably time we tried someone else. I have been in this situation in the past where you can keep playing and get yourself deeper into a hole. I think now is actually a good time for me to give myself a bit of a mental and physical break, get my body right. If I’m required to get in during the tournament, I can hopefully get back into a really solid mental and physical space where I can still have an impact.Related

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Head, Klaasen play decisive hands in Chinnaswamy big bash

“We have had a pretty big deficiency straight after the powerplay, which has been my area of strength over the last couple of seasons. I felt like I wasn’t contributing in a positive way with the bat, and with the results and the position we find ourselves on the table, I think it’s a good time to give someone else an opportunity to show their wares, and hopefully, someone can make that spot their own.”Coming into IPL 2024, Maxwell was in red-hot form. In 17 T20s since the start of November, he had 552 runs at an average of 42.46 and a strike rate of 185.85. During this period, he scored two hundreds as well.But he started the IPL with a first-ball duck against Chennai Super Kings. Since then, he has had two more ducks and has lasted more than five balls only once – against Kolkata Knight Riders, when he made a 19-ball 28 with the help of two dropped catches.”T20 cricket can be like that sometimes – it’s a pretty fickle game,” he said. “Even if you look at the first game, I ran one off the middle of the bat to the keeper. I picked up the length really well, saw a scoring opportunity, but opened the face a little bit too much. When you are going well, that goes wide of the gloves, you get a boundary, you are 4 off 1, and you are away for the tournament.”I probably just haven’t got away – it’s as simple as that. In the first few games, I feel I made reasonably good decisions, but I was still finding ways to get out. It can happen in T20 cricket and when it snowballs like that, you can go searching and try too hard and forget the basics of the game.”The SRH game, though, turned out to be a high-scoring one. Batting first, SRH posted 287 for 3, the second-highest total in T20 cricket. RCB replied with 262 for 7, making it 549 for the match, the most for a T20.Maxwell was asked if, in hindsight, he wished he had played one more game. “I did notice during the powerplay that the pitch was not as slow and two-paced as it has been in the first few games,” he said with a smile. “And I realised it was probably a bad game to miss; it would have been nice to be out there batting.”But as I said, I wanted to give myself not just the physical break but also the mental break to give myself the right to play professional cricket. I take a lot of pride in my performance, and I put in a lot of hard work behind the scenes to get my body right for every game. And it has been a pretty tough struggle, given my body is on the wrong side of 30. I think that physical and mental toll probably just wore me down a little bit.”Maxwell had a similar IPL season in 2020 as well. Playing for Kings XI Punjab then, he managed only 108 runs in 11 innings, at an average of 15.42 and a strike rate of 101.88. He did not hit a single six that year.”That was probably a different scenario,” Maxwell said. “Back then the thing that was hurting me was I was bowling really well. So I was actually playing more as a spinner who was used at the back end [with the bat]. We had KL [Rahul] and Mayank [Agarwal] who were the two leading run-scorers in the competition at that time, so there wasn’t a lot of balls left in the game. So I wasn’t able to get any match rhythm. And when I was, it was only for a few balls here and there.”So I said the same thing to the Kings XI management back at the time, that we can have an overseas bowler in my place. But we didn’t have an offspinner as well. So I sort of played as an overseas offspinner who could bat a little bit.”The management here has been outstanding. We’ve been working together on taking a fair bit of ownership and the off-field leadership staff is trying to help out as much as they can. Unfortunately, runs just haven’t come the way they should have when you are in really good form. I don’t think I’ve had a better six months in cricket leading into this tournament. So it’s frustrating when it ends up like this. But if I can get my body and my mind right, there’s no reason I can’t finish the tournament well if I do get another opportunity.”

Brian Lara is having a terrible tour of Australia and his disastrous plight is not being helped by the umpiring

Play of the Day by Peter English at Hobart20-Nov-2005

Brian Lara walks back dejected after another controversial ruling against him © Getty Images
Brian Lara is having a terrible tour of Australia and his disastrous plight is not being helped by the umpiring. For the third time in four innings he was on the wrong side of a contentious decision, Rudi Koertzen this time misinterpreting a caught-behind appeal off Shane Warne. Pushing forward and across, Lara missed the ball but brushed his pad just after it past his blade. The Australians appealed in unison and on seeing Koertzen’s slow-motion finger raise Lara slumped and froze.The statue was eventually broken and he trudged off with a couple of bat waves to the crowd as part of his Down Under farewell tour. It has been a difficult journey in which he has not yet reached a half-century. He suffered an awful lbw dismissal to Brett Lee in Brisbane and was given out the same way to a desperately close call in the first innings. The master is 36, his wrinkles are showing and his skin must loosen further with each incorrect decision.

Statistical highlights for the third day’s play of the second Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Colombo

Mathew Varghese05-Jul-2007

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2007Duncan Fletcher took over with England rock bottom in Test cricket after defeat against New Zealand•David Jones/AFPJune 1983
Duncan Fletcher captained Zimbabwe to one of the World Cup’s greatest upsets, scoring an unbeaten 69 and snagging 4 for 42 as his side beat Australia at Trent Bridge.1993
Fletcher took over as South Africa domestic side Western Province’s coach, steering the team to titles in both the first-class and limited-overs competitions during his stint.1997
Glamorgan appointed Fletcher as coach. The side won their first county championship since 1969 during Fletcher’s first year in charge.June 1999
Fletcher was appointed in place of David Lloyd following England’s first-round exit from the World Cup. However, he didn’t take charge until the end of the summer as England lost 2-1 against New Zealand and were officially ranked as the worst Test team in the world.October 1999
Fletcher’s first tour as England coach was to South Africa. On the opening morning of his first Test in charge England’s scoreline read 2 for 4 at the Wanderers. Michael Vaughan was handed his debut. South Africa took the series 2-1, England’s consolation victory at Centurion Park later proved to be central to the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal. However, there were early signs of a strong working relationship with Nasser Hussain.May 2000
England secured their first Test series win under Fletcher, 1-0 against Zimbabwe.July 2000
Fletcher plucked Marcus Trescothick out of county cricket for the Natwest Series. Trescothick scored 79 on debut against Zimbabwe and went on to add 66 on Test debut against West Indies at Old Trafford.September 2000
England reclaimed the Wisden Trophy with victory over West Indies for the first time in 31 years. Fletcher built a core of experienced players including Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough, Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe.December 2000
Helped mastermind England’s first Test victory in Pakistan for 39 years as they won in the dark at Karachi. The batsmen used a ‘forward press’ introduced by Fletcher and were able to combat the spin threat of Saqlain Mushtaq.March 2001
England completed a winter Test series double over subcontinental teams, beating Sri Lanka 2-1 in a heated contest.July 2001
Fortunes started to slip as England lost every match in the Natwest Series against Australia and Pakistan.August 2001
Ashes were surrendered in 11 playing days, but the team avoided a whitewash as Mark Butcher lead the run-chase at Headingley.Duncan Fletcher built a strong working relationship with Nasser Hussain•Getty ImagesFletcher called for England to play more one-day cricket and a five-match series against Zimbabwe was shoe-horned in ahead of the tour of India. England won 5-0.November 2001
England headed to India without Gough and Caddick. Fletcher quickly realised he needed extra pace bowling and called up Andrew Flintoff from the Academy in Adelaide.June 2002
Home series against Sri Lanka was won 2-0 with much talk about England’s young pacemen; Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard, Alex Tudor and Simon Jones.October 2002
England’s one-day form continued to be poor as they didn’t progress beyond the group stage of the Champions Trophy.December 2002
Ashes were again decided in 11 days; England used 17 players as a huge injury list piled up.January 2003
England avoided the whitewash as they won at Sydney. Fletcher said it was a sign of what was possible, especially when Australia were without Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.March 2003
Another World Cup campaign descended into chaos, this time because England refused to play in Zimbabwe and forfeited the points. They memorably beat Pakistan in Cape Town, but didn’t progress after defeats against India and Australia. Nasser Hussain resigned as one-day captain, but continued as Test skipper.May 2003
England began the summer under split captains; Hussain for Test matches and Michael Vaughan for ODIs.July 2003
Hussain stood down as Test captain following the first Test against South Africa, replaced by Vaughan who had won the Natwest Series and Natwest Challenge the previous month.September 2003
England twice came from behind to draw the series against South Africa. Flintoff smashed 95 at The Oval during Alec Stewart’s final Test.November/December 2003
Fletcher’s first tour with Vaughan as captain, in Bangladesh, and a new fitness regime was instilled on the team. Comfortable victory in Bangladesh, but defeated in Tests and one-dayers in Sri Lanka.March 2004
The beginning of Fletcher’s golden period as coach as the team won 3-0 in the Caribbean, for the first time since 1967-68. England’s fearsome foursome – Harmison, Hoggard, Flintoff and Jones – took shape under the guidance of Troy Cooley.May-September 2004
England completed a 7-0 clean-sweep of Tests during the home season (three against New Zealand, four against West Indies). However, their one-day form remained poor as they failed to make the Natwest Series final.Michael Vaughan took over from Nasser Hussain and also worked well with Fletcher•Stu Forster/Getty ImagesSeptember 2004
A sudden upturn in one-day performances as England reached the Champions Trophy final after a semi-final victory against Australia. They lost to West Indies, in near darkness, at The Oval despite having the match under control.January 2005
England’s run of 13 Tests without defeat ended at Newlands, but they returned to form to claim the series against South Africa 2-1, a first series victory in 40 years. The subsequent one-day series was lost 4-1, despite Kevin Pietersen’s three centuries.May/June 2005
England warmed up for the Ashes by beating Bangladesh 2-0 and securing a tie in the Natwest Series final against Australia.July 2005
Kevin Pietersen was preferred to Graham Thorpe for first Ashes Test, Thorpe promptly retired and England were thrashed by 239 runs.August 2005
Fletcher backed his players and told them to get away from the spotlight. England won at Edgbaston by two runs, in what was quickly called “The Greatest Test”, then they came within one wicket of victory at Old Trafford. More nerves were frayed at Trent Bridge as England squeezed home by three wickets to lead the series 2-1.September 2005
The Ashes were regained with a draw at The Oval. The following day the team were carried through London on an open-top bus to a party at Trafalgar Square. Later, there was an audience with the Prime Minister at Downing Street. Fletcher was very quickly granted British Citizenship.December 2005
The first Test series since the Ashes ended in a 2-0 defeat against Pakistan. Fletcher awarded an OBE in New Year’s Honours List.March 2006
England levelled the series in India with Flintoff as skipper following injury to Vaughan and Trescothick’s illness. Fletcher hailed his young players, who included Alastair Cook and Monty Panesar. Their one-day form remained poor – the series was lost 5-1 – but Fletcher claimed to know his best team. “We have a very good idea of what our strongest one-day side is. If everyone’s fit and ready to go there is probably only one position we would want to look at sometime over the coming weeks.”May/June 2006
Fletcher continued to be without Vaughan as Sri Lanka fought back to level series 1-1. England lost the Natwest Series 5-0, calling up the likes of Tim Bresnan, Alex Loudon, Kabir Ali and Vikram Solanki. Serious questions were raised about whether Fletcher knew the team he wanted for the World Cup.August 2006
Andrew Strauss was the fourth captain of the year as England claimed their first Test series win since the Ashes with 3-0 a victory over Pakistan. Panesar was central to the victory at Old Trafford but Fletcher questioned his value on non-spin friendly surfaces. Panesar then bowled England to victory on the final day at Headingley. Fletcher sang his praises: “As a finger spinner there is probably no one to match him in world cricket at the moment.”Fletcher was given an increasingly tough time by the media was England’s 2006-07 winter went from bad to worse•Getty ImagesOctober 2006
Flintoff was named captain for the Ashes. England predictably crashed out of the Champions Trophy in the first round, but decided to fly home for five days before jetting off to Australia.November 2006
Fletcher insisted England’s preparations for the Ashes were suitable; a one-day match and two three-day games. Panesar and Chris Read, who played key roles against Pakistan, were omitted in favour of Ashley Giles and Geraint Jones. The first Test was lost by 277 runs; Giles 1-113, Jones 19 and 33.December 2006
England conspired to lose the Adelaide Test despite being 97 ahead with nine wickets in hand on the final morning. Panesar was finally selected at Perth, taking eight wickets, but the Ashes were relinquished.January 2007
Australia completed whitewash but Fletcher insisted he would carry on, having faith in his young players. Vaughan returned to captain the one-day team. The Schofield Review was set up to examine the performance of Team England from 2003-2007.February 2007
England won four straight matches to steal the CB Series, 2-0 in the finals.March 2007
England lost opening World Cup match against New Zealand. Six members of the team, including Flintoff, were then caught drinking into the early hours in St Lucia. Flintoff capsized a pedalo in the sea, was stripped of the vice-captaincy and dropped for the match against Canada. England beat Canada and Kenya to move into Super Eights, but rumours abounded of a split camp and the national newspapers started to call for Fletcher to go.April 2007
Angus Fraser, a member of the Schofield Review committee, called for Fletcher to go in his role as cricket correspondent for The Independent. England exited the World Cup after a nine-wicket hammering by South Africa.November 2008
Fletcher signed on as a consultant with English county Hampshire. During the one-year term, Fletcher conducted an audit of the county’s coaching procedures.November 2008
Fletcher was drafted into the South Africa set-up as part of their preparations for the 2008-09 tour of Australia. South Africa, who ultimately won that Test series 2-1, had hoped to tap into Fletcher’s experience of beating Australia in the 2005 Ashes.November 2010
New Zealand Cricket recruited Fletcher as a consultant to boost their struggling team during the bilateral one-day series in India in November-December 2010. Fletcher’s appointment was an attempt by the board to “keep the environment fresh” within the team, but did not work, as India registered a 5-0 whitewash.February 2011
Most recently, Fletcher returned to the role of South Africa’s batting consultant during the 2011 World Cup.