After Collingwood, Giles comes to support Fletcher

New Delhi, Oct 24 (UNI) Geoffrey Boycott thinks Duncan Fletcher has exceeded his shelf-life as coach of the England side but Fletcher continues to find support in his wards and after Paul Collingwood, spinner Ashley Giles has thrown his weight behind the coach.

After Collingwood said he was ''surprised and baffled'' by Boycott's call to remove Fletcher, Giles felt it was a ''personal attack'' on the coach.

''I think it's quite ridiculous to expect us to lose Duncan Fletcher. Ahead of us lies a huge winter and we need Fletch at his best.

''There's no more forward-thinking coach in the game than Duncan Fletcher,'' Giles told BBC Radio Five Live.

Of Fletcher, the left-arm spinner said, ''He keeps a lot of stuff to himself. It won't frighten him - that is for sure - but criticism to anyone is hurtful.'' Boycott had earlier opined that Fletcher should go after England lost both their opening matches in the ongoing Champions Trophy.

The Andrew Flintoff-led side plays its final group match against West Indies in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

Earlier, Collingwood, in his BBC Sport column, wrote, ''I do not think you should blame the coach for our results.

''The coach can give you as much advice as possible but it is the players who go out and make the decisions,'' he argued.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan has also backed the coach.

''I've every reason to believe Duncan is the right man and that he has the full support of the captain, the players and the management team,'' he told the Daily Mail.

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