Duncan Fletcher's job as England coach after the latest demoralising one-day hammering by Australia is not under threat, according to England chairman of selectors David Graveney.
Fletcher's one-day record against the top eight Test-playing nations is poor but, with the World Cup in the West Indies looming, Graveney is convinced Fletcher retains the full confidence of the ailing England dressing room.
And Graveney insists the players are desperate to claim a much-needed victory over New Zealand on Tuesday to ease the pressure on their coach.
Graveney said that, "Duncan is hurting the same as everyone else - and when I say everyone else I mean the players, the management and every England cricket fan.
"He is trying to do the job on a day-to-day basis with the same intensity and I am sure the players know if there is one thing they want to do on Tuesday it is to win for Duncan Fletcher.
"Duncan Fletcher is still the England coach and he retains the support of everyone close to the team and the team in particular. Our main objective is to start winning some games on this tour."
Rather than using Fletcher as a convenient scapegoat for an Ashes tour rated by many experts as the worst in England cricket history, Graveney insists the players much shoulder much of the blame for the sorry displays.
{{/usCountry}}Rather than using Fletcher as a convenient scapegoat for an Ashes tour rated by many experts as the worst in England cricket history, Graveney insists the players much shoulder much of the blame for the sorry displays.
{{/usCountry}}"They have to assess their performances each day by looking at themselves and saying, 'have I done everything I possible can for this team?'
"The two performances in Adelaide were way off the standards we expect from this national team. I don't want to make excuses because I don't think that is particularly appropriate at this stage."