 Fletcher could choose to rest Flintoff from certain series |
Coach Duncan Fletcher fears England's leading players are facing burnout. His team can expect to have just 50 days off from international cricket in the next year as they attempt to retain the Ashes in Australia.
"Burnout doesn't happen overnight. Once it's happened it's too late," Fletcher told the News of the World newspaper.
"By the end of the 2007 World Cup we are going to have some very tired players. Then we go into home series against West Indies and India."
 |  Michael Vaughan's job is to win games; I can't say to him I only want Flintoff to bowl 12 overs in a day |
England depart for their tour of India next Sunday, returning home for summer series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
They are set to return to India in October for the ICC Champions Trophy before moving to Australia for the Ashes and a one-day series.
The World Cup begins in the Caribbean on 13 March.
England are already worried about Andrew Flintoff's workload after he returned from the tour of Pakistan with ankle inflammation.
Fletcher may decide to rest the star all-rounder for the Champions Trophy to have him fully fit for England's attempt at retaining the Ashes in Australia.
"Michael Vaughan's job is to win games. I can't say to him I only want Flintoff to bowl 12 overs in a day," he added.
"If we can't get a wicket, who's he going to throw the ball to?"
Fletcher made it clear retaining the Ashes is England's main goal, even ahead of the World Cup.
England have failed to reach the later rounds of the last three World Cups, all following Ashes tours.
"Ultimately we set out to beat Australia in an Ashes series at home last year," said Fletcher.
"For this England side there will be no better achievement - other than beating them away, which we'll try to do at the end of this year."
MMIX
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