Cricket World Cup: Don't tear our team to bits

SWEEPING changes are being demanded following our World Cup exit and the knives are out for a few of us more established one-day stars.

If some people had their way there would be absolute carnage at Lord's.

But I hope the England management don't decide to rip apart a team which, with a little more luck and change of situation, would still be out in South Africa fighting to win the World Cup.

It would be daft to believe that by dismantling this side we will have an improved chance of actually becoming world champions by the time the next tournament arrives in the West Indies in 2007.

I'm sure the England management will do what is best for the future - and that's a little tinkering here and there. Of course younger players have to be brought in. But they have to be good enough, performing to such a high standard in county cricket that they cannot be ignored.

You don't just dump experience, knowledge and ability just because there are cries to get rid of the "oldies".

Being over 30 and having a body which needs a little medical treatment probably puts me in danger. The same has been said of Andy Caddick, Alec Stewart, Nick Knight and Ronnie Irani - the other over- 30s.

Nasser Hussain felt, at 35, he had achieved all he could as England's one-day captain and chose to give someone else the chance. But I for one am not about to stand aside and give up my international career just because people believe it is time for change.

My immediate plan is to see a specialist next week about my side problem, get that sorted out, and have a rest before starting the new season with Yorkshire. Right now I believe I have one good season still left in me - and I hope to be involved in a heavy Test and one- day schedule against Zimbabwe and South Africa.

At the end of it I will sit back and contemplate what to do next. If I feel like I do now I'll carry on playing for Yorkshire and, if England need me, for my country. I was happy with my own performances in the World Cup. You always feel you can do better but that's natural.

As a team we played some excellent cricket and I still can't believe we did not make the Super Sixes. Losing to Australia was probably my biggest disappointment in cricket. We had the game by the scruff of the neck and then Michael Bevan showed what an incredible batsman he can be in one-day cricket.

The team sat in the dressing room afterwards without saying a word. Duncan Fletcher said a few things but we were all so deflated I don't think many of the players could take it in.

The annoying thing was that it was the second time in a row we had the Aussies on the rack but did not finish the job off. I spoke to Darren Lehmann a day later and he said we were the best team Australia had played by a mile. So that's another reason not to rip apart a side which, on the face of it, is capable of competing against the best.

Not long ago we were near the bottom of the one-day ladder and with people writing us off. In a short time Duncan Fletcher and Nasser Hussain helped put together a team with pride, passion and ability.

Younger guys like James Anderson - one of the finds of the World Cup - have bounced onto the scene. And there will be more in the future. But these players with potential need to join a team which has the experience and knowledge for them to learn from.

This summer is a good chance for a little experimenting but I'm sure the selectors will be just as determined to ensure a successful time against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the triangular one-day series.

As for who will captain the team, I don't believe anybody really knows right now. Names have been bandied around but we may not know for a long time. There's no pressure on the management to rush things and they will be keen to get the right man.

Obviously Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick keep popping up and I'm positive both could do the job perfectly well. Yet we might see a guy with captaincy experience brought in as a short-term measure to try to bring a new leader through.

Someone like Adam Hollioake. He has been in the squad before and he is one of the most respected limited-overs players in county cricket.

As for Nasser, he clearly decided it was the perfect time to step down. He felt he could not take the team any further but if he had stayed on as captain I think we would have all been delighted.

It's been such a traumatic winter for everyone, what with the Zimbabwe dilemma and the World Cup scenario. But Nasser deserves plenty of praise for the way he handled everything that was thrown at him. It's just a pity we are not still out in South Africa because all the players were confident that if we did make the Super Sixes we would go a lot further - perhaps to the Final.

It's hard to watch from home because it just makes me feel what might have been. Mind you I'm sure it's even tougher for South African captain Shaun Pollock and his men. They were kicked out by the weather and now have to put up with the game's biggest tournament going on in their own backyard without them.

Good luck to Kenya and Zimbabwe but I can't see anybody stopping Australia retaining the title. Although India - with their superb batting line-up and decent bowling attack - could push them close.

Interview: GARY

FITZGERALD

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