Fletcher tells England to learn from Pietersen's example
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Glenn McGrath, meanwhile, has admitted that Australia have copied the West Indies side of two decades ago by targeting the opposition captain and has promised to continue to make life uncomfortable for Michael Vaughan.
"I am very excited about the way Kevin Pietersen has settled in to Test cricket," Fletcher said of the batsman who was dismissed only once during England's demoralising display, scoring 57 and an unbeaten 64 on his Test debut.
"The public seem to feel that way, too. He plays positive cricket and he is the sort of player who makes people leave the pub to sit down and watch him. It is nice to have a player in your team that is so positive both on and off the field. Hopefully, it will rub off on the rest of the side and make sure the guys go into the next game with their heads held high."
Pietersen's batting and the bowling of England's pacemen were the only positives to come out of the defeat and Fletcher will need to use all his man-management skills to instill belief in his side before the second Test at Edgbaston in nine days' time.
The form of Vaughan is a major concern. The England captain was bowled twice at Lord's before he reached five. Vaughan will have extra batting practice under Fletcher's guidance this week, a policy he adopted last year before the opening Test against West Indies when he responded by scoring a century in both innings at Lord's.
"I'll be having a couple of days with Fletcher this week," Vaughan said. "I've been looking at my form and my dismissals and in the first innings I don't think I could have done too much about that ball, but maybe I could have got away with it in the second innings."
McGrath, who had match figures of 9 for 82 in the first Test, said: "I think with Vaughany it is not technique, it is confidence. You don't lose your technique overnight, batting or bowling. It's just your confidence levels that change and Michael has got a bit of work to do but there is plenty of cricket left on this tour.
"If you can get on top of the captain, then it can have an effect on the whole team. The Windies in the 1980s tended to target the captain and give them a hard time. It seemed to have a pretty good effect for them and that's the way we have always played and it's going to be no different now."
Fletcher said: "Vaughan is a class batter. I have no doubt he has the ability to come back and score plenty of runs for England. Vaughan has scored a lot of runs against Australia and it is important that he remains upbeat. He feels there is a good innings just around the corner and that could be at Edgbaston.
"We have dug holes for ourselves before and managed to climb out of them and we are confident we can do it again."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments