The England and Wales Cricket Board are awaiting the verdict of a review of the Ashes and World Cup failures before making a full-time appointment.

BBC: Fletcher to quit after World Cup

But will the captain's form this time be affected by the threat of a second successive Ashes defeat, one which would surely signal the end of his reign, and quite possibly his international career?

BBC: Ashes: Can England win down under?

On the field, the England women's cricket captain guided her side to glory at the World Cup for only the second time, the World Twenty20 trophy, the retention of the Ashes and a 4-0 defeat of Australia in the NatWest Series to complete an unprecedented year of success.

BBC: Charlotte Edwards eyes England women's next chapter

The two parties agreed a formula for his recuperation in time for a possible return in time for the 2009 Ashes, involving a period of rest followed by low-profile opportunities to rediscover his best form with England's performance squad.

BBC: Vaughan misses out on tour place

"I've had the time of my life over here and bringing back the Ashes is something that will always stay with me, " added Swann, who took 15 wickets as England beat Australia 3-1 in the Test series to retain the Ashes.

BBC: Injured Graeme Swann to miss England ODIs in Australia

At county level, he enjoyed his greatest moment in 2001 when, after missing that summer's Ashes series because of injury, he helped Yorkshire win the Championship for the first time since 1968.

BBC: Ashes hero Vaughan calls it quits

The tourists took 13 from the first over in Nagpur, but with the record winning last-innings score in India of 276, they look poised to lose a series for the first time since the 2005 Ashes.

BBC: India set Aussies daunting total