Flower lands England coaching job

Flower lands England coaching job

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By Nkanyiso Moyo

ENGLAND have appointed former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower as assistant coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.

Flower, 39, was chosen by new England coach Peter Moores and replaces Matthew Maynard with immediate effect.

Maynard, who worked under former coach Duncan Fletcher, also a Zimbabwean, will cease to work with England with immediate effect.

Flower has been playing for Essex but announced his retirement from playing in order to take up the position which follows on from his work as a batting coach with the academy.

Moores said: "Andy will bring to the support staff a wealth of international experience as well as a clear understanding of the domestic game in England and Wales. I am sure all the players will respond to his style and enjoy working with him."

Flower added: "I hold Peter Moores in the highest regard and congratulate him on his recent appointment as the England head coach. I believe that his selection as England head coach was an inspired choice and reflected well on his work and that of Rod Marsh prior to Peter in setting up the national academy.

"From my time working with Peter at the academy, I know that we shall work very well together and I am excited about entering into this new challenge of coaching an international team.

"I too would like to express my gratitude to Essex County Cricket Club who provided me with the opportunity to play county cricket and supported me so well in my development as a coach. I wish Graham Gooch, (captain) Ronnie Irani and the rest of the Essex team every success in the future."

Flower played 63 Tests between 1992 and 2002, scoring 4,794 runs at an average of 51.54.

He scored 156 when Zimbabwe recorded their maiden Test victory, defeating Pakistan by an innings and 64 runs at Harare in 1995. He enjoyed a purple patch for two years starting in 1999 when he averaged 85 over 21 Tests.

He grabbed the headlines when he scored 540 runs, being dismissed only twice on a tour to India. Flower became the first wicketkeeper-batsman to record centuries in both innings of a Test match, scoring 142 and 199 not out against South Africa at Harare in 2001.

He was also the first wicketkeeper to go to the top of the PricewaterhouseCoopers ratings for Test batsmen and was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2002.

Flower announced his retirement from international cricket after a turbulent 2003 World Cup, which started with an unprecedented protest by him and team-mate Henry Olonga over the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe.

"A gentleman, an educator and all-round quality human being," said Ian Pont, Essex's fast bowling coach. "A huge loss for Essex, but he's just what England need."

Flower will join the England coaching staff before the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's, starting on May 17. - AP/Reuters/Staff Reporter
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