Flintoff can still captain England - Fletcher
Duncan Fletcher has defended his book revelations which were been serialised in a national newspaper last week. The extracts, which highlighted Andrew Flintoff's drunken exploits during the last Ashes tour, have caused many to criticise the former England coach.
However Fletcher, who stepped down after the unsuccessful World Cup in the Caribbean, was adamant he was correct not to act before the Australia tour had finished, according to his autobiography, Behind the Shades.
He did backtrack slightly by suggesting that Flintoff, 29, could well become England captain again.
He said: "I have concerns about the level of debate that's been reached.
"I wanted to be loyal to him [Flintoff] but loyalty should be two-way traffic."
Fletcher suggested that he had chosen to mention Flintoff's drinking in Sydney to 'link' the 'Fredalo' incident in St Lucia while England were participating in the World Cup.
Flintoff had been found intoxicated while using a pedelo in the early hour of the morning. As a result the all-rounder was stripped of the vice-captaincy.
"I felt let down after the pedalo affair," Fletcher continued. "I just felt that I linked it directly to what had happened in Sydney, and just felt let down in such a serious situation."
However Fletcher admitted that, even with hindsight, he had no regrets about making Flintoff captain for the Ashes tour. When asked whether the Lancashire star could skipper England again Fletcher said: "I see no reason [why not].
"If that foot lets him bowl as well as he can there's no reason he shouldn't captain down the line."
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