The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has some tough negotiations to undertake in the coming months, the most important of which will be to convince coach Duncan Fletcher to extend his contract, which expires at the end of the 2003 season. Tim Lamb, the ECB's chief executive, told the Independent newspaper: "We haven't set a timetable but we'll want to sit down with him pretty soon to discuss the future. It's not for me to decide the length of his engagement. It's a demanding job, he's spending a lot of time away from home and it's as much up to Duncan as it is to us. But at the moment I can't imagine us not wanting to re-engage him."

What the ECB wants and what it get might be two different things. Fletcher is very much linked with Nasser Hussain, and despite denying earlier reports that he will definitely retire Hussain has indicated that he will seriously reconsider his future after the 2003 World Cup, when he will be 35. The rumours continue to circulate that Fletcher and Hussain both see that as the perfect time to bow out.

Just as Hussain has been credited with doing much to engineer England's revival on the field, Fletcher has been acclaimed for his role off it. "He's a very clear thinker who seems to have established a very good rapport with the players," said Lamb. "He has a sense of self-belief, he's a strong-minded character and is obviously a good coach."

The ECB and Hussain and Fletcher are currently in disagreement over the number of central contracts awarded by the ECB. The ECB is unwilling to budge from the 12 currently awarded, citing financial limitations, while Hussain and Fletcher argue that they struggle to work with the existing number and have demanded a minimum of 16.

Lamb has rejected their request, but hinted that the number would be reviewed in September when money from a new television-rights deal will be available. Until then, Fletcher is unlikely to commit to anything.

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