By Paul Collingwood England batsman

It is sad that in one game on Saturday, our last of this World Cup, England will lose Duncan Fletcher as a coach and world cricket will see the last of Brian Lara.

It has been a tough week for us, at the end of a tough winter. We were all disappointed with the manner in which we lost to South Africa.

We do not expect boos from the crowd or feel we deserve them but as professionals you are expected to perform and you understand people will criticise you if you do not.

Collingwood has worked with Fletcher for six years

On Thursday, we went about our training as usual then Fletch got us together and announced he was resigning. It was a shock to most of us.

He has been around a long time and has become a close friend. He is a very, very good coach, who put his heart and soul into the job.

You look back and ask, "Could I have done a bit more for such a good bloke?" We all felt like we had let him down a little.

He always supports you, even if you make mistakes. There may be criticism in what he says but it is criticism you can learn from and improve after.

As part of a close environment like this team, knowing he is always doing such a good job, it is sometimes hard to see and understand the outside view.

Obviously results have not gone our way this winter but our individual performances have been poor.

Fletch has done everything in his powers for us to perform at a high level. To go out on the note he has is very disappointing - after so much success he didn't deserve it.

I am not sure whether the time really was right for him to go. Fletch has continued to change his techniques.

He has not been saying the same things this winter that he said when I first came on board six years ago. He is constantly looking at new ideas.

He challenges us all the time, whether in training or in conversation, trying to help us progress as cricketers.

Lara takes part in his final net session for West Indies

I have not worked with Peter Moores before but people who have spent time with him at the National Academy say he is very good so I am looking forward to it.

There will probably be a lot more change in store for the team, with a new coach bringing in different ideas. I think the personnel will change as well.

Team England has been very close-knit over the last six years, with very few of the backroom staff changing either.

It is up to the experienced players in the squad to make sure we move on in a positive way and help the new coach implement his vision.

Meanwhile, we have one last appointment at the World Cup. As we aim to finish on a high note, Lara will want to as well.

He has always been a player who is fantastic to watch, especially from my place in the field at backward point, even though you really want to get him out.

The way he plays his shots and goes after bowlers is amazing.

Hopefully we can keep him quiet on his final appearance. I know he will not want to end his career getting out to Paul Collingwood but maybe Andrew Flintoff would be OK.