Fletcher: We know we're good enough
Fletcher
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Monday, 04, Sep 2006 09:08
England coach Duncan Fletcher has insisted his team know they are good enough to break their recent poor form in one-day cricket.
Andrew Strauss' men go into the third one-day game against Pakistan at the Rose Bowl on the back of a dismal display at Lord's on Saturday, having also been saved from defeat in Cardiff by the weather.
With the Champions Trophy and the World Cup creeping ever closer, Fletcher knows the team has to improve but he insists they have what it takes to do that.
"They know they're good enough, some of the players are world-class and they've done it before," Fletcher said.
"We've got a very young side, especially the bowling attack, and people are trying to bed down and we're trying to get some consistency going."
England have lost eight of their last nine one-day games, with the other match abandoned because of torrential rain, and received a blow when veteran paceman Darren Gough was ruled out for the remaining matches of the series with a shin injury.
His absence means that Durham's Graham Onions is in line to make his international debut at the home of Hampshire cricket and Fletcher believes the 23-year-old will equip himself well.
"He's bowled very well this year and this is an opportunity for him to carry on the form he's shown on the county scene," Fletcher added.
Onions has taken 47 wickets in 13 county championship games this season.