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England keen to extend Fletcher's contract
September 10, 2003 15:04 IST
England officials want to meet with coach Duncan Fletcher to discuss extending his contract beyond next September, the England and Wales Cricket Board web site reported on Tuesday.
"[Fletcher] hasn't given us any indication in the past that he is not willing to continue but we need to speak to him to determine what he wants," ECB chief executive Tim Lamb said.
England, who beat South Africa in the fifth Test on Monday to level the series 2-2, will tour Bangladesh and Sri Lanka before the end of the year.
"We would like to sort this out before the start of England's tour," Lamb added.
Fletcher, on his way to Cape Town for a holiday before leaving for Bangladesh next month, believes he can improve the team further.
"It's up to the ECB," he said. "There's probably only been two sentences passed between us when they've turned around and asked what I wanted to do.
"There's a lot of work to be done and I can contribute to helping those cricketers in that side."
Fletcher took over as England coach in 1999 and the team has enjoyed mixed fortunes since.
High points included successful tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan and beating the West Indies in a Test series for the first time in 31 years.
Among the lows, England have failed to mount a serious challenge to World champions Australia in two Ashes series and endured a disappointing World Cup campaign this year.