Duncan Fletcher is appointed England coach on the same day Nasser Hussain is handed the captaincy, 25 June, 1999 He takes over an England side ranked the worst in Tests, and the former Glamorgan coach's first series is in South Africa England slump to an innings defeat in two of the first four Tests, but win the rain-affected fifth by two wickets Zimbabwe-born Fletcher returns to his homeland for a one-day series and sees England record a rare whitewash In summer 2000, Zimbabwe are defeated again, while the West Indies are beaten for the first time in 31 years, 3-1 England record another famous series win when Pakistan are beaten for the first time in Karachi for 46 years in fading light A Test series win in Sri Lanka follows, but a one-day series loss prompts Fletcher to call for a greater focus on the format Australia continue their Ashes domination though with comfortable 4-1 wins in England in 2001 and at home in 2003 Hussain resigns as England's one-day captain after a poor 2003 World Cup in which they fail to reach the Super Sixes Michael Vaughan steps up and 2004 gets off to a flyer when England win their first series in the West Indies since 1968 England win a national record eight consecutive Tests in 2004 including all seven at home to New Zealand and West Indies Fletcher then masterminds a 2-1 series win in South Africa to avenge the tour defeat to the Proteas five years previously The victory raises hopes back in England of an Ashes series win against Australia in the summer of 2005 And Fletcher produces again as England win a thrilling series 2-1 to end Australia's 18-year hold on the Ashes Fletcher and Vaughan receive OBEs from the Queen while the rest of the squad are honoured with MBEs following the win But England's fortunes take a turn for the worse over the next 12 months, starting with defeat in Pakistan Sri Lanka then draw the Test series on English soil 1-1 before demolishing Fletcher's side 5-0 in the one-day series Another one-day failure in the Champions Trophy followed by the 5-0 Ashes drubbing leaves Fletcher much explaining to do A rare one-day series win against Australia and New Zealand only papers over cracks before England head to the World Cup And when England fail to reach the semi-finals following a humiliating nine-wicket defeat to South Africa, Fletcher quits
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