England coach Fletcher wants a winning start in Pakistan by AFP

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Event:

England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 31st October 2005

 

England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher said Sunday his team is determined to win the three-match Test series against Pakistan to keep the Ashes momentum going.

 

"We want to win every Test match from the start and set the mark," Fletcher told reporters, ahead of his team's opening three-day match starting on Monday in Rawalpindi.

 

England, buoyed by their dramatic 2-1 win over Australia last month which gave them their first Ashes win in 18 years, play three Tests and five one-day matches in Pakistan.

 

The first Test starts in the central city of Multan on November 12.

 

"To be honest, the Ashes cannot be out of the England team's scheme and at the end of the day if you win the Ashes it gives you confidence. But what we don't want is over-confidence and complacency," said Fletcher.

 

"If we have the confidence and self-belief after beating Australia we can mix it with the best because Pakistan is also a good side," said Fletcher, who was also England's coach when England beat Pakistan 1-0 in 2000.

 

"I am sure we will take inspiration from the Karachi win," said Fletcher, referring to England's six-wicket win five years ago.

 

"Pakistan is a talented side so it would be difficult to beat Pakistan in Pakistan, like all away tours are difficult."

 

Fletcher said he was confident his batsmen can handle any spin threat which Pakistani bowlers and pitches offer.

 

"I am very confident that they can handle the spinners on the aspect that we played Shane Warne better in the Ashes than the World XI batsmen in the Super Test," said Fletcher.

 

Leg-spinner Warne, despite taking 40 wickets, failed to stop England's victory. But he helped Australia down the World XI in the Super Test in Sydney earlier this month.

 

Fletcher said he was unsure what type of wickets Pakistan will employ in the Tests.

 

"We are getting mixed messages. One section is saying it would be seaming pitches and then they also want spin wickets as well. But either way our side is competent enough for both.

 

"We have good spinners and Ashley Giles has been bowling well and since the wickets will be dry, reverse swing comes into play as well. So we have all the bases covered which we did not have before," said Fletcher.

 

England's seamers surprised Australia with their ability to reverse-swing the ball in the Ashes series, with Simon Jones taking 18 wickets in four Tests.

 

Jones is absent from the Pakistan tour after suffering a knee injury.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)