BBC SPORT | ENGLAND | Fletcher: England still in shock

England coach Duncan Fletcher says he faces a huge task lifting his squad for the final Test against New Zealand, following the tragic death of Ben Hollioake.

As captain Nasser Hussain flew off to attend the memorial service for the 24-year-old in Perth, the remaining players had their first day off since the tragedy occurred last Saturday.

The squad will return to work on Thursday for the first of two days' training before the start of the final Test at Eden Park on Saturday.

But Fletcher knows that their thoughts are still dominated by the loss of Hollioake.

"It's pretty difficult to pick the team up," admitted Fletcher. "It's just hit me how difficult it's going to be to put together a plan.

Ben Hollioake died in a car crash on Saturday

"You're in a catch-22 situation where if you don't show emotion you're callous and if you do there is a chance of people finding holes in it.

"You just have to find a middle ground somewhere, get them motivated and make sure they keep thinking about the game in hand."

Hussain carried Hollioake's England blazer, left with the squad to take back to England while he had a holiday in New Zealand, back to his family, alongside cards of condolence from most of the squad.

He also took a letter drafted by England operations manager Phil Neale on behalf of the whole team to the Hollioake family expressing their great regret at his untimely death.


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