England 'closing gap' on Aussies: Fletcher

England coach Duncan Fletcher believes the gap has narrowed between his side and one-day world champions Australia.

A new-look England have won 10 out of 16 one-day internationals since September, beating Zimbabwe 5-0, drawing 3-3 with India and narrowly losing 3-2 in New Zealand this week.

"For the first time since I've been involved with England we have worked as a unit," Fletcher said on Wednesday.

"The gap has narrowed between us and the top teams. South Africa and Australia are still well ahead of the rest but I believe that gap has narrowed.

"New Zealand came back proud of their performances in Australia (where they qualified for the tri-nations final against South Africa at the expense of their hosts) yet we had a very close series with them. If we had got one or two wickets earlier in the final game we could have won the series."

Last summer England were whitewashed at home by Australia and Pakistan, forcing the selectors to re-think their planning for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Players such as Matthew Hoggard, Jeremy Snape and Paul Collingwood were given roles in the side and Andrew Flintoff re-emerged as a genuine international all-rounder.

"We have got a pretty good side and there is a lot of potential. We are in the next group of teams behind South Africa and Australia," Fletcher added.

"The majority of this squad have got a good chance for the next World Cup and we are ahead of where I wanted to be by the end of this (northern) winter.

"There are of course areas we have to improve such as the fielding. We need to learn how to dive and the athletic side of things in the field. If we had fielded better the results would have shown that."

MENTALLY DEMANDING

Meanwhile Fletcher has given Nasser Hussain a break ahead of the three-test series starting next month with the skipper missing the three-day game in Queenstown this week.

Hussain's wife Karen and baby son Jacob have arrived in New Zealand and Marcus Trescothick will lead the side while the skipper enjoys time with his family.

"I don't think people really appreciate how demanding his job is both mentally and physically," Fletcher said. "It's important that he gets away, clears his mind and is fresh for when we get to Christchurch.

"I've told him. I don't want to see him around the place for a couple of days. We have got to make sure that in two weeks time he is not too tired because by then it will be too late.

"Marcus might need a break when we get to Christchurch. The ones that play in this game will get a break next week."

England bid farewell to six members of the one-day squad, including Darren Gough, but have welcomed Mark Butcher, Mark Ramprakash, Usman Afzaal, Warren Hegg, Richard Dawson and Jimmy Ormond to the tour.

All six will play against Otago at the new Queenstown ground in a match which starts on Saturday. Michael Vaughan will miss the game with a shoulder strain.

Mail Cricket Editor