I Was Right Not to Pick Monty for the Ashes, Insists Fletcher

Duncan Fletcher has aggressively defended his decision not to pick Monty Panesar for the start of the Ashes series in Australia last year, claiming the spinner "didn't have an arm ball" and "it was obvious he needed to work on his batting and fielding".

Panesar went to Australia having taken 17 wickets at 30.29 in the summer series against Pakistan, but Fletcher makes it clear that he didn't have the confidence of the England management set-up.

"It simply had to be Giles," says Fletcher in his forthcoming autobiography Behind The Shades. "He was bowling much better than Panesar at the time. Crucially, Flintoff, the captain, wanted Giles to play in that Test [in Brisbane].

"Something also happened that which I had not seen before when some senior players not on the management team approached me and pleaded that Giles be picked," he added. "Not one of the management group even hesitated in nominating Giles.

"I could have taken the easy route and played Panesar but I did what I thought was best for the England team. It was nothing to do with favoritism or blind loyalty to the 2005 Ashes heroes. Obviously I still think about the decision a lot even now but I have not altered my view. I still maintain we picked the best side for Brisbane."

Fletcher also defended his decision to select Geraint Jones ahead of Chris Read for the first Ashes Test last year, saying that Read had technical flaws. "Before the tour Jack Russell sent me a text saying that Read's keeping channel was too narrow due to a technical flaw and asking if he could help," Fletcher reveals. "As I said earlier, within the camp we had been talking about that problem for years."

Fletcher also reveals that he wanted to bring Sussex's Matt Prior to Australia - not Read - but was outvoted by the selectors.

Meanwhile Geoffrey Boycott has accused Fletcher of being "a hypocrite" who "should be ashamed of himself" after comments made in his autobiography. In recent days, Fletcher has criticized Boycott and Sir Ian Botham and spoken about Andrew Flintoff's drinking habits.

But Boycott told the Daily Telegraph: "After the stuff he has come out with in the last couple of days, I find it ironic that he spent his eight years with England spouting on about loyalty and keeping everything within the team. There he was, taking the moral high ground at every opportunity. And as soon as he finishes, what does he do? He gets stuck into Flintoff.

"I have no problem with cricket people writing books, telling the truth, and making some money. I have done it myself. Fine. But it seems a bit rich coming from someone who has made such a big deal about not 'talking out of school'. Fletcher is a hypocrite and he should be ashamed of himself."