Late baby, late

I like to think of Duncan Fletcher siting in front of the cricket on the sofa at home, still in his England top, sunhat and shades. Periodically, Mrs Fletch will find that he has silently arrived at her shoulder, where he'll whisper in her ear something like, 'KP's head has fallen outside the line again'...

He remains a supreme technical analyst, which is why his Guardian columns are always good value. Yesterday's was about playing swing bowling. He points out the error of Shane Watson's ways before advocating again his trademark forward press to counter late-ducking swing at pace.

That still requires two movements of the batsman, and even Fletch admits it's a hard thing to get right. To me it's just a new take on the old maxim, 'see it early, play it late'. The very greatest batsmen, Tendulkar for example, just stand still while they pick up the line. It's easier then to play later, because there's less going on.

Eion Morgan played beautifully late yesterday. People wonder how he seems to score so quickly without battering the ball. The answer is that he gets full value for his shots because he so rarely hits it at the fielder. Like Lara he strokes it where they're not, waiting for the ball and using subtle angles of the bat. Fletch approved, I'm sure...

Death rattle

Duncan Fletcher believes in fast bowling, to the point of obsession. When Jacques Kallis says that South Africa's advisor has 'some new ideas to beat Australia... I obviously can't say much more on that, but our bowling is going to be crucial', be sure that the Saffer attack will be loaded with its big guns in Perth. 

The one man you won't hear from is Fletcher. Few people in the world have heard him speak, although it's rumoured that he can. 

Tim Nielsen can't stop. John Buchanan limited himself to the odd acidic waft from beneath that crowbar moustache, but his teams had McGrath and Warne to speak for them. Nielsen evidently thinks the pre-series sledge is down to him. He's warned South Africa over 'cheap talk'. Which is interesting considering they have have yet to say anything. When Neilsen really did need to speak out, as Ponting was copping it all for India, he chose to do so via the fearless forum of his Cricket Australia blog. 

Australia versus South Africa is a contest. Fletcher versus Neilsen is over already. 

Function creep

Duncan Fletcher is back. The men of Hampshire will soon feel that unsettling, implacable gaze fall upon them as he appears, ethereally, silently and unannounced, behind them in the nets. The ubiquitous shades, age-inappropriate though they are, will be there too. 

It's another coup for Rod Bransgrove, the man who brought Warne and Pietersen to the Rose Bowl. A Warnie apprentice, Giles White, is the tyro team manager. Tony Middleton is academy coach. 

Enter Fletch, and shades, as 'consultant'. White and Middleton will 'decide how to use his talents', while Fletch conducts 'an audit of coaching procedure'.

So, to recap, Fletcher will be auditing White and Middleton, while White and Middleton decide 'how to use his talents'.

Fletcher, like all coaches touched by greatness, has one way of doing things. His. Is it just the Batsman or is anyone else thinking 'director of football'?