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Duncan Fletcher’s battles with Ricky Ponting continue and this time it’s Fletcher who has taken the upper hand after helping to guide South Africa to their historic win in the first Test in Perth.
Former England coach Fletcher has just completed a 20-day stint as a consultant with the South African team and hung around long enough to see Australia humiliated at the WACA, losing by six wickets as the Proteas chased down 414 to win.
It was a record chase for Australia-South Africa Tests and is second only in all Tests to the 7-418 by the West Indies against Australia in 2003.
Fletcher, who coached England to their Ashes triumph in 2005, was forced to eat humble pie in Australia two summers ago in a 5-0 whitewash by Ponting’s side.
But now the pressure is back on Ponting.
Fletcher is perhaps best known for his role in getting under Ponting’s skin after his run out during the 2005 series by super-sub Gary Pratt at Trent Bridge.
Ponting was fined for verbally clashing with Fletcher after the home team’s coach smiled and waved at him as he walked off the field.
While South African coach Mickey Arthur is playing down the personal rivalry between Fletcher and the Australians, he’s happy to heap praise on the former Zimbabwe captain.
Fletcher has had a wide-ranging role as a provider of ideas but his lifelong friendship with all-rounder Jacques Kallis has also brought immediate results, with Kallis snapping out of a form slip with two half-centuries in Perth.
“He has known Jacques since Jacques was nine so he has been very good,” Arthur told reporters on Monday.
“We are always looking for a little bit extra in our management set-up and he has brought that little bit extra.
“He’ll go away and re-join us again next year at some stage but his 20 days are up for this year and I think it has been a really good arrangement.
“I think everybody has benefitted.”
Arthur said Fletcher had brought reassurance to the team on tactical issues.
“He wasn’t saying anything different to how we had planned,” Arthur said.
“But it was nice to have that confirmer that you are on the right track.
“He has probably given a little bit to each guy, whether it’s an around-the-wicket line or a little idea in terms of preparation, he has contributed and he has upped our level a couple of notches.
But Arthur said Fletcher’s enthusiasm for taking on Australia hadn’t brought any greater edge to the players, who were already keen to make amends for past failures.
“The guys were very intense about this tour, very focused,” Arthur said.
South Africa have the chance to take the top ranking from Australia if the Proteas can win 3-0. Australia haven’t lost a home Test series since 1992-93 and the build-up to Friday’s second Test in Melbourne will be intense.
“We are very aware that Australia are going to come back strong. We need to stay very humble and keep our feet on the ground,” Arthur warned.
South Africa haven’t beaten Australia in a Test series since 1969-70 and have never claimed a series win in Australia.
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