Duncan Fletcher usually guards his secrets as inscrutably as the Sphinx, but before he left for his home in Cape Town yesterday, he revealed the unlikely pair who provided inspiration through the darkest moments of the Australia tour: a polar explorer turned motivational speaker and Mother Teresa.

Having borne the brunt of failure in the Ashes Tests and the start of the Commonwealth Bank Series, the England coach seemed to be moved when Andrew Flintoff thanked him after winning a first one-day trophy as captain, for his role as lightning conductor for so much criticism.

Fletcher will help to select the 15 for the World Cup in the Caribbean, which will be named at the Brit Oval tomorrow, and then, during the next fortnight, establish plans for the tournament. There may even be a call to Alan Chambers, described by Fletcher as his most positive influence in the past challenging months.

Chambers was leader of the first British team to walk unsupported to the North Pole from Canada, a hazardous 70-day trip during which he suffered extreme weight loss and food shortages. His bravery and determination have touched the team and Fletcher.

Chambers was first used during the 2005 Ashes series. England found parallels between his endurance trip and their path towards success. Since then, his messages of support and advice have given sustenance to Fletcher, not least when critics were questioning his position.

“I am quite philosophical about criticism,” Fletcher said. “Alan sent me a great statement from Mother Teresa. From that, I can see what has happened. It says basically that when you are successful you win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. I will leave it at that. You can see where it comes from.

“Alan is a fantastic individual. I just like very positive people. He is very popular with the team because we can relate to what he is saying. There were quite a few statements we used among ourselves to keep us going and he has continued to send me a few e-mails.”

Fletcher said that he retained belief in the young team even during the worst defeats in the one-day matches. “You cannot know where their limit is,” he said. “I have been with young sides who suddenly put it together. Probably we are a year too early for the World Cup. I have said it before, but who knows when things can hap-pen? In some ways you could say we are only six months too early. We may even get to the World Cup and be bang on target after all. When you think where we were in Australia, this must rate among our best wins.”

It may sound churlish, given the turnaround in Melbourne and Sydney, but the truth remains that England should know where they stand, having started to prepare in 2003. The chopping and changing — most evident in the wicketkeeping position and batting order — is not entirely down to injuries.

But Fletcher said: “The win has lifted the side and these were solid wins to finish the tournament. We did not scramble through on overthrows or on the last balls. The performances have been top class.”

Fletcher suggested that there are “two or three problems” on selection. Liam Plunkett’s emergence is a big bonus, but Sajid Mahmood struggled to make the same strides and Stuart Broad did not add to his five appearances last summer. Ravi Bopara, who would make an excellent substitute fielder, has played only once.

At least suggestions that Fletcher can no longer motivate the squad have disappeared with Flintoff’s eulogy. “That does mean a lot to me,” Fletcher said. “But I always felt I had the support of the players, which is crucial.”

Poles apart

Alan Chambers, 38, a former Royal Marine, spent five years training for his unsupported expedition to the North Pole. Having set out from Canada in 2000, Chambers and Charlie Paton reached the Pole in 70 days. More men have walked on the moon than reached the Pole unaided.