England's priority remains the Ashes

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) After mounting a vigorous defence of England's strikingly inept one-day side at the weekend coach Duncan Fletcher, accidentally or not, underlined his primary obsession.

Less than nine months out from the World Cup, a five-match series whitewash at the hands of Sri Lanka extended England's sorry one-day record against international team to 15 losses from 18 matches.

Yesterday, Fletcher pointed out that eight first-choice players had been sidelined through injury for the entire series.

In addition Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, two of the better one-day performers, missed two matches.

''It would be interesting if Sri Lanka were missing eight and we had eight of our players back,'' Fletcher was quoted as saying on the BBC Web site. ''I would like to see what any side missing eight would have got.

''We have to pick the youngsters and show a bit of patience.

If these players we are missing do not come back you are in a rebuilding process.'' Then followed an allusion to the main aim of a season which is sliding into a summer of discontent after the euphoria of last year's Ashes win over Australia.

''How long did it take us to build that cricket side that went on to win the Ashes?,'' Fletcher asked rhetorically.

''It took three or four years to build that. You don't just pull people in and suddenly have a world-class side.'' Unfortunately for the selectors, England's test record since they drew the fifth test at the Oval last September is only marginally better than their performances in the one-day arena.

Four months before they open their Ashes defence in Australia they have won only two tests in three series, lost four and suffered serious injury disruptions.

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