Workload worried Fletcher

Andrew Flintoff and Duncan Fletcher discuss tactics during the Ashes series © Getty Images

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Duncan Fletcher has admitted for the first time that he had concerns about the demands on captain Andrew Flintoff during the Ashes series campaign.

The England coach, who presided over the first 5-0 Ashes series whitewash since 1920-21, has always fiercely defended all-rounder Flintoff as his choice of captain for this tour.

Flintoff won a close contest with Andrew Strauss, who captained England to a series win over Pakistan last summer, to lead the tourists' challenge to retain the Ashes but has come under fierce criticism for his leadership during the series.

"That was one of the biggest fears we had when we appointed him captain that there was going to be too much of a workload on him, especially on a tour like this to Australia," said Fletcher.

"I do believe there is a lot to ask of him, especially of a young, inexperienced side where you've got to do a lot of captaining and you're not really getting a lot of help from these young guys.

"If you look at the Australian side, (Ricky) Ponting is getting a lot of help from the experienced players around him so it is a very difficult job for Flintoff."

Flintoff looks on with interest during an England net practice session © Getty Images

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The 29-year-old Lancastrian is due to meet with chairman of selectors David Graveney and Fletcher to discuss the situation with the captaincy for the one-day series, which is expected to be passed back to Michael Vaughan now that he has proved his fitness returning from knee problems.

Flintoff has always insisted he would like to continue, but Fletcher claims the combination of his own inexperience as captain and his young side has contributed to a more defensive approach than normal during the Test series.

"There have been occasions I have spoken to Fred and it's been very difficult for him," said Fletcher. "He's had a lot of young bowlers out there and he has to decide whether to protect them or attack a side who have attacking batters and he came up with a policy that he believed was best.

"It's been a very difficult job for him and he's very inexperienced as well. He'd only had about six games as captain before he came out here, he hadn't captained the county side before that so he was very new in the job and had a lot on his shoulders - it was a major area we had to look at when we were deciding between him and Strauss."

Fletcher has also insisted he has not altered his thinking about his own future and despite the 5-0 hammering, he will not review his position until after the World Cup.

He stressed: "I've not changed my mind. I will look at my future after the World Cup.

"I don't know if I will have the time to take these players on, but I do believe I can take them forward.

"I will look at it after the World Cup, but I do believe I have the confidence of the players and the backing of the players and that's very important."