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Graveney dismisses selection rift Flintoff offers Fletcher support
(about 18 hours later)
England chairman of selectors David Graveney has played down rumours of a rift over team selection between Duncan Fletcher and Andrew Flintoff. England captain Andrew Flintoff has played down reports he and coach Duncan Fletcher were at loggerheads over the selection for the second Ashes Test.
Newspapers reports have claimed skipper Flintoff and coach Fletcher clashed over Monty Panesar's non-selection. Newspapers claimed Flintoff wanted spinner Ashley Giles ahead of Monty Panesar, who was Fletcher's choice.
But Graveney said: "I'm not going to speculate on Freddie over-ruling Duncan. They would have reached this decision together. "Selection wasn't an issue for four days at Adelaide and wasn't the reason we lost," Flintoff said.
"Selection meetings are all about discussion but whatever side goes out has the full support of everyone."
Interview: David Graveney
The all-rounder emphasised: "Duncan Fletcher and I have a good relationship."
England's six-wicket defeat in Adelaide left them 2-0 down in the series, needing to tie it to keep the Ashes.
Flintoff continued: "We've taken huge stick and I can't argue with that but don't accuse this England team of not caring. That upsets me even more.
"I give everything when I am on the cricket field and always have done.
"It wasn't until I woke up the next morning that the real horror began to sink in. When I woke up, my first thought was that it had all been a bad dream."
Speaking on BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme, chairman of selectors David Graveney also played down rumours of a rift between Fletcher and Flintoff.
"I'm not going to speculate on Freddie over-ruling Duncan. They would have reached this decision together," he said.
"Us being 2-0 down isn't about which spinner plays or both playing.""Us being 2-0 down isn't about which spinner plays or both playing."
onClick="javascript:launchAVConsoleStory('6166503'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Interview: David Graveny Fletcher has borne the brunt of criticism after Panesar, so successful in his first year in Test cricket, was left out for the first two Tests in Australia.
Fletcher has been criticised after Panesar, so successful in his first year in Test cricket, was left out of the England team for the first two Tests. Graveney continued: "I'm disappointed with the amount of criticism that's been aimed at Duncan solely.
Graveney told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "I'm disappointed with the amount of criticism that's been aimed at Duncan solely.
"The way that we've organised English cricket is around collective responsibility - when things go badly, that's a collective responsibility."The way that we've organised English cricket is around collective responsibility - when things go badly, that's a collective responsibility.
606 DEBATE: Your views on Graveney's comments606 DEBATE: Your views on Graveney's comments
"The selectors - Duncan, me and Geoff Miller - deliver a squad to the coach Duncan and captain Andrew Flintoff."The selectors - Duncan, me and Geoff Miller - deliver a squad to the coach Duncan and captain Andrew Flintoff.
"No-one makes a decision on their own. The process has been in place on many tours before, on which we've had a lot of success."No-one makes a decision on their own. The process has been in place on many tours before, on which we've had a lot of success.
"In the first Test, regrettably our seam bowling was not on the money at all, and in the second one we had a mad hour with the bat."In the first Test, regrettably our seam bowling was not on the money at all, and in the second one we had a mad hour with the bat.
"We've got great resolve in this team - we've had some success, but we know everyone has to pull together.""We've got great resolve in this team - we've had some success, but we know everyone has to pull together."