Fletcher warns fallen pace duo
Former England coach Duncan Fletcher says Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard may struggle to regain their Test spots after being dropped in New Zealand.
And Fletcher also believes that Andrew Flintoff needs to improve his batting as he is "not a Test match number six".
He told the Sunday Telegraph: "(Harmison) will find it hard. He'll need some consistent performances.
"I was not surprised (about Hoggard being dropped) -- he always struggled when he was the main strike bowler."
Fletcher led England to their first Ashes series win in 18 years when his team beat Australia 2-1 in 2005, as Harmison and Hoggard weighed in with 33 wickets while Flintoff scored over 400 runs and took 24 wickets.
However, Flintoff missed the recent Test series win over New Zealand with injury, while Harmison and Hoggard were dropped after England lost the first Test -- and went on to win the series without them.
But the fact that the pace pair are no longer first choice does not surprise Fletcher.
"It's typical Harmy -- he could and should be the number one bowler in the world but he can't seem to put it all together," he said.
"I saw an interview where he was having a go at some current players who had criticised him and saying something about not being able to wait to see them from 22 yards.
"Why does he need things like that to motivate himself?"
Hoggard's lack of pace is a worry for Fletcher, and he explained: "His speed has been dropping for a while.
"I heard someone say he's lost his nip, but I thought it had gone a while ago."
And on Flintoff, Fletcher added: "I hope his foot does allow him to bowl properly because otherwise his batting will need to improve.
"I think it has become pretty obvious he is not a Test match number six. He is a number seven."
Comments