Somerset (UK), July 15 (ANI): Indian cricket team coach Duncan Fletcher is preparing to catch up with an old friend - Andrew Strauss - and has promised to make his life as difficult as possible during the forthcoming England-India Test series.
Fletcher was a huge influence on young Strauss when, as England coach, he helped transform him from a decent county batsman with Middlesex seven years ago to an Ashes winner 12 months later.
Now as India coach, the Zimbabwean will attempt to plot his pupil's downfall when they resume acquaintances at Taunton from today in a friendly fixture.
"You have to respect Straussy for coming down here to face this attack," the Daily mail quoted 62-year-old Fletcher, as saying about the left-hander's 'loan' move to Somerset in search of form ahead of next week's first Test.
"It's a 50-50 call as to whether he's doing the right thing. If he gets out early there's a chance we'll have something over him. Even if he does get runs in this match it will be over the four Tests that he'll be judged," he added.
Left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara dismissed the England captain thrice during the Test series against Sri Lanka. Now, he will come up against a better left-armer in Zaheer Khan, his nemesis from India's last tour in 2007.
Old fox Fletcher was particularly wily when assessing the contest.
"The problem lies with Straussy. If he feels he's got a problem it's more of a concern to him than us at this stage," Fletcher said.
Strauss, 34, however, was quick to play down any suggestion that he might be doing the wrong thing in playing.
"It's not a gamble at all. I don't think I've ever played in a Test having not played cricket for three weeks beforehand. That's why I was keen on this," he said.
Fletcher said that he never thought he would be back in a coaching role at the international level.
"I didn't think I'd coach at this level again after leaving England but, I did some work with South Africa, New Zealand and Hampshire and I got the bug again. Then this opportunity turned up and it was one I couldn't really turn down," he said.
His knowledge of the minds and methods of Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Alastair Cook makes Fletcher a key figure in a series that will determine the best Test team in the world.
The ICC have announced that England will replace India at the top of their complicated ratings system if they win this series by two Tests or more, something they have not managed at home against the Indians since 1974. (ANI)
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