Fletcher finds consolation in Mother146;s words

England coach feels the darkest moments of Ashes series gave him vital lessons in realities of life

In the darkest moments of a grim Ashes campaign England coach Duncan Fletcher sought consolation in the words of Mother Teresa, the nun who devoted more than 60 years to the sick and dying in Calcutta now Kolkata.

8220;Mother Teresa said that when you are successful you win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies,8221; he told reporters last week. 8220;I am quite philosophical about it. I will leave it at that.8221;

Such eloquence was unprecedented for the former Zimbabwe captain, who prefers to play the deadest of dead bats to the media. It also reflected his relief at England8217;s unexpected resurgence when they appeared dead and buried in the one-day tri-series after losing the Ashes 5-0.

England, on the brink of elimination from the tournament with Australia and New Zealand and with their World Cup hopes apparently in tatters, won four matches in a row, including the first two in the best-of-three final against the hosts. 8220;You can8217;t deny that four wins in a row, three against Australia, have lifted the side,8221; Fletcher told reporters. 8220;They were solid performances. I believe there is still a huge improvement to be made. Hopefully they can produce that at the World Cup.8221;

Fletcher made his reputation in the one-day game, inspiring Zimbabwe with bat and ball to a famous World Cup victory over Australia in 1983.

Yet although he helped lift England from the bottom of the barrel in 1999 through to their 2005 Ashes triumph, the one-day team has steadily regressed in his time at the top.

Renowned for his meticulous planning in test cricket, Fletcher unwittingly revealed the corresponding lack of coherence in the one-day preparation when he added: 8220;I thought we were a year too early. Now I don8217;t know where we are. Maybe we are six months too early.8221;

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English optimism in the two-month Caribbean carnival is sparked almost exclusively by the events of the past few weeks and the projected return of Kevin Pietersen after injury.

England8217;s first big match will be against New Zealand, one spot higher in the International Cricket Council rankings and full of confidence after whitewashing Australia this week.

A win over the Kiwis in the first round in St Lucia would give England two valuable points for the super eight stage.