Fletcher’s recent emotions must have replicated those of Stewart and he admitted that Panesar’s poor fielding could cost him his place

Fletcher’s recent emotions must have replicated those of Stewart, and he admitted that Panesar’s poor fielding could cost him his place.”He obviously knows he is under a lot of pressure,” Fletcher said. To which Malcolm said: “How can I? It’s millions of miles away.”Those of us watching fell off our chairs laughing because an incandescent Stewart had absolutely no idea what to say or do. Stewart suggested that he “get the other side of it” – change the angle at which he came in so that it did not get in his eyes. On one occasion Stewart was hitting high catches to Malcolm, who was dropping as many as he caught, and in frustration he asked him what the problem was.

With most of the England team watching from the shade Malcolm shouted that the sun kept getting in his eyes. Malcolm toured the West Indies in 1989-90 and Micky Stewart, the England coach, spent hour after hour working on his fielding. From the moment he sets off to bowl he looks the part, exuding elegance, quality and poise. Yet when you take the ball off him he becomes a penguin stuttering along the ice.Panesar’s fielding is reminiscent of that of Devon Malcolm, the former England fast bowler. Panesar’s cricket when he is in the field is a complete contradiction. They are all important players and we want to make sure that they all come back.”A player who will need plenty of Fletcher’s attention over the coming months is Monty Panesar, England’s left-arm spinner. They pick up another injury because they are compensating for the injury they are recovering from, and we’ve got to be careful with that.

“We have spent a lot of time developing them as players,” he said. “We don’t want to rush them back early because then, normally, another injury crops up. There Tests are permitted to begin on Boxing Day and finish on 30 December, with another starting two days later.Player care has improved immeasurably since Duncan Fletcher became England coach in 1999, and he explained why he is reluctant to rush the return of Michael Vaughan, Ashley Giles, Simon Jones and Harmison. The third Test will start on Friday, rather than the traditional Thursday, to follow an ICC directive stating that governing bodies should attempt to give their players at least three days rest between Test matches.