Fletcher fears burden on Flintoff

Fletcher (right) rested Flintoff from the last two one-dayers in India

England coach Duncan Fletcher says he is concerned about over-burdening Andrew Flintoff in the continued absence of captain Michael Vaughan.

"Michael is a very successful captain and very inspirational," Fletcher told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek.

"That is not to say Flintoff is not, but I am just concerned that we are asking too much of Andrew.

"He has done well as stand-in captain but as an all-rounder he has enough on his plate bowling and batting well."

We need Michael back, as captain as well as a player Duncan Fletcher

Flintoff took the reins in India when Vaughan's knee problem forced him to return home before the Test series.

In his absence, England put in what Fletcher termed an "outstanding performance" to draw the series 1-1, before a comprehensive 5-1 defeat in the one-day series.

"Ideally, with Michael probably back, it lessens the burden on Andrew and can free him up to play the exciting cricket he plays," Fletcher explained.

"We need Michael back, as captain as well as a player with all the experience he has got."

The captaincy has not been a burden, it is something I have enjoyed Andrew Flintoff

Flintoff, however, dismissed the suggestion - voiced by Australian opener Matthew Hayden - that he is "carrying" England at the moment.

"When you look at last summer when we played Australia every Test match was a team effort," he said.

"The one strength of this England side is that when we play well it is different people doing things.

"Somebody at certain times sticks their hand up and takes responsibility - I play my part within the side, so too do 10 others.

Flintoff carries England - Hayden

"The pressure of batting and bowling with captaincy as well has not been a burden, it is something I have enjoyed," he added.

"Maybe further down the line it is something I would like to do but at the moment I have done this trip and I am waiting for 'Vaughanie' to come back now. Hopefully he will be back sooner rather than later."

Fletcher admits he is none the wiser as to when Vaughan will be fit or if he will be able to carry on playing one-day cricket.

"When I last spoke to him a week ago he seemed pretty upbeat, but it seems to be a case of two steps forward, one step back at the moment," he said.

Vaughan hints at ODI retirement

"It is a very difficult decision and only Michael can make it. It depends on the advice he gets from the medical people."

Vaughan was one of five key players - along with Marcus Trescothick, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles - who missed the entire one-day series in India.

Fletcher believes that if and when they return to the side, England's prospects for the World Cup remain "very good" despite the defeats on the sub-continent.

With all our players there, we have got a very good chance in the World Cup Duncan Fletcher

"Where we are a little bit concerned is that if these players don't make it back into the side we have to get young players into the slots and give them as much experience as possible," Fletcher added.

"There is not a long time before the World Cup but some guys have really come to the fore, like Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood, who has bowled quite well.

"There are some encouraging signs but, at the end of the day, we need experience when we go to a competition like the World Cup.

"Last summer, when we got our one-day side very similar to our Test side, we put in very commendable performances against Australia, who are probably the best one-day side in the world.

"If you look at the progress we made then, we have got a very good chance in the World Cup. There is no doubt we were moving forward in a very positive manner."