Duncan Fletcher: A man of many firsts

Dubai: Duncan Fletcher had a very humble beginning but has many first to his credit. He was born in Salisbury (Rhodesia) to a farming family and has four brothers. He went on to become Zimbabwe's first ever One-day international captain and led them to their most famous victory in the 1983 World Cup over Australia.

Fletcher hit an unbeaten 69 and took four wickets with his medium pace in the match. In 1982, he led Zimbabwe to their first ICC Trophy triumph. He played in only six One-dayers but never played Test cricket.

In 1993, he took over as South Africa's Western Province coach and guided the team to titles in both the first-class and limited-overs competitions.

County championship

In 1997, Glamorgan appointed him as coach and they won the county championship for the first time since 1969.

Soon his fame spread and in 1999 he was appointed in place of David Lloyd as England's coach following the team's first-round exit from the World Cup.

In 2000, England reclaimed the Wisden Trophy with victory over West Indies for the first time in 31 years and masterminded England's first Test victory in Pakistan for 39 years in Karachi.

In 2004, England beat West Indies 3-0 in the Caribbean since 1967 and went on to help England record a 7-0 sweep of Tests during the home season (three against New Zealand, four against West Indies).

In 2005 he guided England to a historic Ashes series win and he along with the team was carried through London on an open-top bus to a party at Trafalgar Square.

In 2007 his fortunes began to dip with Australia recording a clean sweep over England in the Ashes series and in 2008 resigned from the post. His autobiography is called Behind The Shades.

India's outgoing coach Gary Kirsten recommended Fletcher to the BCCI as the next coach.