Fletcher steps down as England coach 

Duncan Fletcher has submitted his resignation as the national coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Thursday.The ECB said it has accepted Fletcher's resignation and he would be guiding the team for the last time on Saturday when England take on West Indies in their final ICC Cricket World Cup match in Bridgetown, Barbados. Fletcher said he had made up his mind to resign during the course of the quadrennial event. "I always said that I would review my position as England Coach nearer to the end of this winter. Earlier in the World Cup I came to a decision about my future and I discussed stepping down as head coach with the ECB prior to England's game against Bangladesh," he said in a statement from the ECB. 

Fletcher's career as coach had its highs and lows. It reached its high point when he masterminded England's Ashes victory in the home summer of 2005. Fletcher, along with the rest of the team, was acknowledged for his effort with an OBE. But England's fortunes soon was on a downslide. A spate of injuries, particularly to skipper Vaughan, saw them lose match after match . The team failed to make it to the semifinals of the Champions Trophy in India. The return of Vaughan as captain seemed to work some magic as the team, without the dangerous Kevin Pietersen, bounced back to win the CB Series triangular tournament. However they had a dismal performance at the much-awaited World Cup 2007.