Wives and Girlfriends to England team's rescue

Under pressure England coach Duncan Fletcher today placed his faith in the Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs) of his players to lift the team's fortune in the crunch super eight league of the Cricket World Cup.

England scored an unconvincing 48-run win over qualifier Ireland in their first Super Eight league match and now Fletcher in sheer desperation is looking towards the women to prop up their men to do a good job in the next two key matches against Sri Lanka (April 4) and arch rival Australia (April 7).

''I think the presence of Wives and Girlfriends will help the player put in better performances during the rest of the World Cup Super Eights,'' he said.

The presence of the wives and girlfriends for large parts of the Ashes tour earlier this winter was cited as a major factor in England's humiliating 5-0 whitewash.

But coach Fletcher welcomed their arrival at England's Antigua base yesterday and believes they could provide an uplifting effect on a squad who are yet to impress so far in the tournament.

Fletcher justified the WAGs presence, saying ''We've done it on previous tours and on some of the tours when they've arrived we've put in some very solid performances.

''India was a good example a few years ago when we were losing 1-0 in the Test series and the wives arrived and we ended up drawing the series - they do help when they are arrive.'' Fletcher who has been under flak for team's poor showing feels that anything that can lift his side's performance in the World Cup is acceptable so why not have the WAGs if they can do the job.

''It's very, very important. We've done it on previous tours and we'll keep doing it,'' he told mediapersons here.

''It is a very tough tournament and they (WAGs) do help if they are around. That's why we bring them out. We do believe it is a good thing,'' he explained.

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