Giles backs Fletcher
England spinner Ashley Giles has backed coach Duncan Fletcher following claims by Geoffrey Boycott that he had reached the end of his "shelf-life".
The former England opening batsman spoke out after the side's defeat by Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy in India and pointed to a number of "madcap" and "bizarre" decisions. Batsman Paul Collingwood defended the coach on Monday and Giles says that to replace him so close to an Ashes Test series would be ludicrous.
Giles told BBC Radio Five Live: "I think it's quite ridiculous to expect us to lose Duncan Fletcher. Ahead of us lies a huge winter and we need Fletch at his best. There's no more forward-thinking coach in the game than Duncan Fletcher."
He added: "I have no idea when he's looking to call it a day and for me I hope he goes on for a couple of years yet."
Yet Giles, who is with the squad in India but not playing, believes Fletcher will deal with the criticism well.
He added: "He keeps a lot of stuff to himself. It won't frighten him - that is for sure - but criticism to anyone is hurtful."
England are all but out of the Champions Trophy having lost their opening two matches to India and Australia. Their final group match is against West Indies in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
