Andy Flower steps down as England Team Director

[Convict]

Andy Flower steps down as England Team Director

Andy Flower has today informed the England and Wales Cricket Board that he wishes to step down after five successful years as England Team Director.

Flower, who played 63 Tests and 213 ODIs for Zimbabwe over 11 years, began working with the national side in 2007 when he appointed assistant coach to Peter Moores. In 2009 the Zimbabwean was appointed England Team Director and during Flower’s five year tenure England teams have achieved a number of significant milestones. England has won the Ashes three times - in 2009 and 2013 at home and for the first time in 24 years in 2010/11 Andrew Strauss and Flower won the Ashes in Australia. In 2011 England climbed to the top of the ICC Test rankings and in 2012 Alastair Cook’s side won a Test series in India for the first time in 27 years. England also claimed a first global title in 2010 when the team won the ICC World T20 in West Indies.

In December 2012 Flower handed over day to day responsibility for the limited overs teams to Ashley Giles who was appointed England ODI and T20 Head Coach leaving Flower to focus on the Test side.

Paul Downton, Managing Director England cricket, who met with Andy Flower this week, paid tribute to the England Team Director’s record. Downton said: ‘Andy has been the most successful coach in England’s history and we at the ECB are very disappointed to see him leave the role as Team Director.

‘We respect his decision and the reasons for it but we are keen to keep Andy’s experience and outstanding knowledge within the ECB. We are at advanced stages of negotiating a role for Andy within the ECB structure which will best utilise his undoubted skills.’

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, added: ‘Andy Flower has not only shown himself to be a coach of great quality but also a man of great integrity. He has led England to great successes during his reign as Team Director and I look forward to his continued input in the ECB’s coaching structure.

‘I am sure that he will be every bit as successful in that role as he has been in his five years as England Team Director. I thank him for his contribution to England’s cricketing history and wish him well in the future and his continued role in England’s cricketing success.’

Andy Flower said: ‘Following the recent very disappointing Ashes defeat it is clear to me that this is now time for England cricket, led by Alastair Cook, to rebuild with a new set of values and goals. The opportunity to start with a clean slate and begin to instil methods to ensure England cricket is moving in the right direction will be an incredibly exciting challenge for someone but I do not feel like I am in a position to undertake that challenge.

‘In order for England cricket to make significant progress I believe that the Team Director, together with the respective captains, needs to be responsible across all formats in order to positively influence the rebuilding process. This will ensure complete clarity and continuity across the squads and having stepped aside from the limited overs squads 14 months ago that is not something I am able to do and I do not therefore feel that starting the process would be in the best interests of all involved at what is a pivotal time for England cricket.

‘This has been a very difficult decision to make and I remain committed to England cricket and would like to wish Alastair Cook and Paul Downton every success. I will remain in my position as a selector for the time being and am currently exploring possible roles within the ECB. The priority must now be to establish the direction and personnel needed to ensure England cricket moves forward.’

 

[Mohsin]

It was either Pieterson or Flower imo...there was only ever gonna be 1 result there

 

[Extreme Pace]

Perfect timing, we need a coach !

 

[Jo_Don]

Unfortunate that he has to pay the price for the incompetence of the players.

 

[Mr Consistent]

i think good decision by england broad hope they don't drop KP

 

[style_guru]

Ok. Now the next logical step would be to hand the captaincy to KP, and the coaching to Colly.

 

[James]

Unfortunate that he has to pay the price for the incompetence of the players.

Flower is also responsible. He's been abysmal.

 

[Jo_Don]

Flower is also responsible. He's been abysmal.

Sure but I don't think that any other coach would have made much of a difference. The players have looked like sitting ducks all series, they looked like they didn't want to be there.

 

[James]

Sure but I don't think that any other coach would have made much of a difference. The players have looked like sitting ducks all series, they looked like they didn't want to be there.

It's one of those occasions where the people in charge have to take responsibility. Authority brings you power, creative control and a bigger salary, but you have to take on the rougher elements too.

Players will be getting culled as well.

But make no mistake, the decision over Flower will also relate to his refusal to work with KP. Obviously it was decided that England's top scorer in the series and their foremost cricketer still had something to offer, whereas a coach who had passed his sell-by date and was also beginning to exhibit unprofessional behaviours had long outstayed his welcome.

 

[90MPH]

It was the right call. His time was up and I couldn't see him take England any further.

They need fresh ideas and a new approach.

 

[Convict]

It's one of those occasions where the people in charge have to take responsibility. Authority brings you power, creative control and a bigger salary, but you have to take on the rougher elements too.

Players will be getting culled as well.

But make no mistake, the decision over Flower will also relate to his refusal to work with KP. Obviously it was decided that England's top scorer in the series and their foremost cricketer still had something to offer, whereas a coach who had passed his sell-by date and was also beginning to exhibit unprofessional behaviours had long outstayed his welcome.

I suspect KP is gone as well.

 

[Sherlock]

I guess they'll also sack Ashley Giles too, he's been just as abysmal as Flower.

 

[Strike!]

Well he has been coach for a pretty long time now, pretty sad that he was thrown out though.

 

[Jo_Don]

It's one of those occasions where the people in charge have to take responsibility. Authority brings you power, creative control and a bigger salary, but you have to take on the rougher elements too.

Players will be getting culled as well.

But make no mistake, the decision over Flower will also relate to his refusal to work with KP. Obviously it was decided that England's top scorer in the series and their foremost cricketer still had something to offer, whereas a coach who had passed his sell-by date and was also beginning to exhibit unprofessional behaviours had long outstayed his welcome.

All valid points. Although I suspect that KP won't exactly be immune either.

What surprises me is that he didn't make the announcement that he would be stepping down. The media has basically reported that he's been sacked. This is not how it's usually done when a board 'allows' a fixture in the team to leave gracefully. This must been that there is quite a rift between both parties.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

so does this mean KP wins?

or will he meet the headsman too?

 

[The Muppets XI]

Would have been surprised if no one had been sacked after the disastrous tour. Not surprised it is Flower.

 

[Kianig89]

still remember FLower's speech in mundane way after thumping India in 2011 we are building a legacy and this England team will go a long way and blah blah spoke too soon

anyway could be a good choice

 

[justarslan]

Somebody give Flower's number to Zaka so he can hire him to coach Pakistan. This way we will not need a batting coach.

 

[James]

I suspect KP is gone as well.

I really don't think he should be, and Flower's departure is a boost for him, but yes the sad news may break one day soon.

 

[the Great Khan]

so what happens to Mushy? perhaps he's in line for a PCB role?

 

[saj786]

Can't blame flower for the performance s, same philosophy poor execution by players

 

[Justcrazy]

Perfect timing, we need a coach !

Somebody give Flower's number to Zaka so he can hire him to coach Pakistan. This way we will not need a batting coach.

No coach can do anything if PCB does not support him fully.

ideally Pakistan should Talk to Andy Flower to take over as Director of cricket and get rid of Miandad. His Job should be to plan for long term , how Pakistan can find and nurture new talents , instill discipline.

I doubt Pakistan has enough resources or brain to go for long term Planning. Otherwise how can you even considered a tactical Failure like as Head coach ?

 

[ads101]

Sure but I don't think that any other coach would have made much of a difference. The players have looked like sitting ducks all series, they looked like they didn't want to be there.

Think this is more to do with the mentality of English cricketers in general these days. Very temperamental, sometimes it looks like they don't give a damn. You can clearly see lack of effort in LOI compared to tests in certain players too. They rest on their laurels. Same happened with the ashes winning team in 2005. The thing is you can't just concentrate on the ashes, you have to give full effort throughout whatever the format. They were brilliant in India, but you could see the wheels coming off against New Zealand in New Zealand. Part of the reason Australia have dominated so well is they've looked to thrash the opposition whoever they are and whatever the format. That winning mentality just kept going.

England need someone who will inspire them to keep giving their best in all formats.

Flower is an excellent coach, but England need someone fresh perhaps to give that motivation. It is a shame that England can't work well with him anymore.

One big thing is more responsibility should be given to seniors. Stop hiding Bell down the order. He should be opening or up the order. He's played far too many games now. If he can't hack it up the order, drop him. No point playing him down the order forcing youngsters to go up the order and face tougher conditions when they could be developing at Bell's spot.

I think a lot of England's decline has got to do with Trott too. An excellent no.3 is just what England needed. Made their batting order much more stable. With his decline, England's looked a lot more fragile.

 

[Jo_Don]

Well one of Kirsten's tactics to aid home-sickness during away tours was to plan more team-building exercises (hikes, get-togethers etc.) rather than excessive practise. It's some that Russell Domingo will probably continue to do. Not sure if that may help them...

 

[Azlan Khan]

Andy Flower steps down as England Team Director

Andy Flower has today informed the England and Wales Cricket Board that he wishes to step down after five successful years as England Team Director.

Flower, who played 63 Tests and 213 ODIs for Zimbabwe over 11 years, began working with the national side in 2007 when he appointed assistant coach to Peter Moores. In 2009 the Zimbabwean was appointed England Team Director and during Flower’s five year tenure England teams have achieved a number of significant milestones. England has won the Ashes three times - in 2009 and 2013 at home and for the first time in 24 years in 2010/11 Andrew Strauss and Flower won the Ashes in Australia. In 2011 England climbed to the top of the ICC Test rankings and in 2012 Alastair Cook’s side won a Test series in India for the first time in 27 years. England also claimed a first global title in 2010 when the team won the ICC World T20 in West Indies.

In December 2012 Flower handed over day to day responsibility for the limited overs teams to Ashley Giles who was appointed England ODI and T20 Head Coach leaving Flower to focus on the Test side.

Paul Downton, Managing Director England cricket, who met with Andy Flower this week, paid tribute to the England Team Director’s record. Downton said: ‘Andy has been the most successful coach in England’s history and we at the ECB are very disappointed to see him leave the role as Team Director.

‘We respect his decision and the reasons for it but we are keen to keep Andy’s experience and outstanding knowledge within the ECB. We are at advanced stages of negotiating a role for Andy within the ECB structure which will best utilise his undoubted skills.’

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, added: ‘Andy Flower has not only shown himself to be a coach of great quality but also a man of great integrity. He has led England to great successes during his reign as Team Director and I look forward to his continued input in the ECB’s coaching structure.

 

[Savak]

Rightly so. Coaches get away with too much these days. The misbah type approach adopted by the English batsmen and looking so clueless day in day out against Johnson, having no answer to the tactics by the Aussie bowlers. Sorry but that falls under him. He should not have been allowed to get away with it by passing the buck to KP.

 

[Buffet]

I suspect KP is gone as well.

I hope not.

 

[soso_killer]

Coward decision by the ECB, players should be held accountable too.

 

[rooster]

Andy Flower Sacked

Definitely I wasn't happy getting whitewashed but on the hindsight it's a good thing. We're getting a touch too programmatic.

 

[Zahid87]

Seems like they want one coach for Tests and limited overs.

So in all probability, Gilo will get the job.

 

[Haseeb 22]

Why is KP expected to be gone? Just because his performances were not upto mark?

In that case, other batsmen need to be dropped first because they were worse.

I dont understand why KP is always made the scapegoat. Correct me if Im wrong but I dont recall KP having any disciplinary issues during the Ashes series either.

 

[Robert]

Unfortunate that he has to pay the price for the incompetence of the players.

I would say it is mainly down to the management team in fact. Cracks have been appearing for a year now.

Flower has done the honourable thing. I think Saker and Gooch should resign too.

 

[Marshland]

Somebody give Flower's number to Zaka so he can hire him to coach Pakistan. This way we will not need a batting coach.

I can't think of a more im-miscible combination than Flower and Pakistan, sorry.

Anyway, I hope KP stays. Half the reason why some of us still wave the flag for England's prominence in cricket is because of fiesty characters like him.

 

[Buffet]

Why is KP expected to be gone? Just because his performances were not upto mark?

In that case, other batsmen need to be dropped first because they were worse.

I dont understand why KP is always made the scapegoat. Correct me if Im wrong but I dont recall KP having any disciplinary issues during the Ashes series either.

Some problem lies with him but many times, it's due to him not being an English born player. KP makes Eng batting much more interesting to watch. He has many years left in him so I hope he is not pushed aside.

 

[MenInG]

Official ECB statement added to Post #1

 

[trogger]

Seems like the right time to move on, keeping both cook and flower at the helm would have been very difficult.

Flower certainly wasn't a bad coach but all coaches even highly effective ones have their time and place so well done to flower for sensing his time had passed and that england need somebody else to rebuild the team.

First step for cook and the new coach is surely reach out to kp, either quickly mend that fence or move on once and for all.

 

[SOSami]

Finally.

Hope England don't appoint another robot to replace him.

Should get Angus Fraser involved somewhere. He's a good mix of serious and laid back.

 

[Robert]

Some problem lies with him but many times, it's due to him not being an English born player. KP makes Eng batting much more interesting to watch. He has many years left in him so I hope he is not pushed aside.

Plenty of non-English players have done very well for England.

I think it's due to him being KP.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

He should really help zimbabwean cricket if he has a conscience

Cook and flower is the worst combo since strauss and moores

The best has to be fletcher and hussain by a country mile

 

[Big Harvey]

The Andy Flower era was English cricket's most successful one since I've been watching.

OK, we had some good players (unlike the start of the Fletcher/Hussain era), but I don't look at his departure with any sense of optimism. His replacement is likely to be Ashley Giles and a couple of times I had the misfortune to watch the Warwickshire team he coached that won the County Championship. Warwickshire are nicknamed "The Bears," but under his tenure they became The Bores. Against Middlesex at Uxbridge was the first time I've ever seen a team blatantly playing for a draw from ball 1. It seems they played for wins only against the weaker teams.

I had the utmost admiration for what he achieved as a player with limited natural talent, but if his Warwickshire coaching days are anything to go by, the days of sell-out Test matches in England could be numbered.

 

[OZGOD]

Clearly someone had to be responsible for the 5-0 and I guess all concerned decided it should be Flower.

 

[Robert]

He should really help zimbabwean cricket if he has a conscience

Cook and flower is the worst combo since strauss and moores

The best has to be fletcher and hussain by a country mile

Fletcher and Vaughan was arguably better - they beat the great Aussie team at home and SA away.

Cook and Flower won in India. How many others have done that?

Yet England lost 5-0 under Fletcher's tenure too, when he disastrously made Flintoff skipper.

 

[Convict]

Fletcher and Vaughan was arguably better - they beat the great Aussie team at home and SA away.

Cook and Flower won in India. How many others have done that?

Yet England lost 5-0 under Fletcher's tenure too, when he disastrously made Flintoff skipper.

England in 2006/07 had the disadvantage of coming up against one of the greatest teams of all time that not only had a point to prove but wanted to leave on a high (with Langer, Martyn, McGrath and Warne all retiring and Gilchrist and Hayden soon to follow).

My instinct is that Flower was a better coach than Fletcher but Vaughan was vastly superior to Cook as a Captain.

 

[Robert]

England in 2006/07 had the disadvantage of coming up against one of the greatest teams of all time that not only had a point to prove but wanted to leave on a high (with Langer, Martyn, McGrath and Warne all retiring and Gilchrist and Hayden soon to follow).

Yeah, plus:

- Australia was reinforced by Mr Cricket
- poor Tres went down with mental illness
- Harmison had the wrong head on, turning from Grievous Bodily Harm into Harmless
- Fred couldn't lead the proverbial pee-up in a brewery

I think that the just-completed whitewash was much worse, because in 2006/7 the Aussies were clearly better than England, while now they are not, on paper at least. If I'd picked a composite team at the start of the series I'd have started with the England XI, and only Clarke, Harris and Siddle would have got into it. Now you could only think that our hobbit could get into the Aus side (plus Draco if someone got injured).

My instinct is that Flower was a better coach than Fletcher but Vaughan was vastly superior to Cook as a Captain.

Agreed on both counts.

 

[Justcrazy]

Just like Captain , coaches have shell life , I think anew coach will bring freshness in approach. Good that Andy and ECB are parting , Andy would make a good coach in any country.

 

[Robert]

Looks like Flower will get another job within the ECB.

Vaughan reckons that Gary Kirsten should be next England coach.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Fletcher and Vaughan was arguably better - they beat the great Aussie team at home and SA away.

Cook and Flower won in India. How many others have done that?

Yet England lost 5-0 under Fletcher's tenure too, when he disastrously made Flintoff skipper.

Fletcher and Hussain brought England back from the brink of the bottom of the rankings with a team that had craig white and ashley giles

 

[Robert]

Fletcher and Hussain brought England back from the brink of the bottom of the rankings with a team that had craig white and ashley giles

Also Atherton, Stewart, Trescothick, Thorpe, Caddick and Gough.

Nass was a very good skipper, but in comparison to his predecessors he was helped by the new central contracts system which meant that players stayed fit to play for England.

 

[James]

What about getting Nasser involved? Brilliant captain

 

[Robert]

What about getting Nasser involved? Brilliant captain

I expect he is quite happy at Sky. Lots of cash and no responsibility!

 

[SOSami]

What about getting Nasser involved? Brilliant captain

I did think of it, but Nasser, with his history against Australia in the Ashes, probably carries too much baggage.

As Big Harvey said, it's likely to be Ashley Giles, given the glowing way Giles Clarke spoke about him earlier today.

Giles will draw the corporate line so fits the bill.

The likes of Nasser or Fraser will have their own views which may well be counter to the ECB's vision.

 

[SOSami]

Can I also say how much I dislike the term "Team Director".

I'd like to lodge an official complaint with someone about it. By official I mean not at all.

 

[James]

England in 2006/07 had the disadvantage of coming up against one of the greatest teams of all time that not only had a point to prove but wanted to leave on a high (with Langer, Martyn, McGrath and Warne all retiring and Gilchrist and Hayden soon to follow).

My instinct is that Flower was a better coach than Fletcher but Vaughan was vastly superior to Cook as a Captain.

I'd say this Ashes was way more embarrassing than the 2006 one. This year we lost to a far worse team in a far worse fashion.

Also in 2006/7 there were crunch moments. Remember at Adelaide 2006, the 2nd Test, when Ponting was dropped on the boundary (by prospective coach, mediocre slow bowler and all round wheely bin Ashley Giles), Aussie would have been 4/80 and 450 behind; who knows what could have happened in that game. And at Perth we bowled Aussie out for a flimsy 240, but then wasted that opportunity too.

In 2013/14 there were none of these moments. It was just a total disaster from start to finish.

Kirsten, Donald, Moody or Vaughan for the coach. Forget Giles. Although it will probably be him of course.

 

[cars112]

Clearly someone had to be responsible for the 5-0 and I guess all concerned decided it should be Flower.

Yep Ozzie - somebody had to be made the fall guy for this debacle and Flower it was. Cook is just 29 so still offers a lot to English cricket, and for the moment they've decided that the prima donna that is Kevin Pietersen is worth more benefit than Flower.

I dearly hope that they kick out KP as well though - only to shut up Piers Morgan and the rest of KP's fawning admirers who would have you believe that KP is Don Bradman, Garry Sobers and Imran Khan rolled into one.

 

[James]

I dearly hope that they kick out KP as well though - only to shut up Piers Morgan and the rest of KP's fawning admirers who would have you believe that KP is Don Bradman, Garry Sobers and Imran Khan rolled into one.

This is a limp effort - a nothing comparison, one that you have just made up in your head.

If one knows the game, one knows that Kevin rates very highly as a batsman. Simple at that.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Also Atherton, Stewart, Trescothick, Thorpe, Caddick and Gough.

Nass was a very good skipper, but in comparison to his predecessors he was helped by the new central contracts system which meant that players stayed fit to play for England.

Atherton the previous skipper had all the talent in his team too minus trescothic

Nasser had much more mental strength and his personal battle from leg spin maestro to middle order maestro shows in the way he led the captaincy too

 

[Energetic]

Graham Booch should be the head coach now.

 

[Robert]

Graham Booch should be the head coach now.

Or Geoff Goycott.

 

[MenInG]

Abu Dhabi T10 Tournament (2019) - Discussion Thread

15 October, Dubai: Maratha Arabians on Tuesday named former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower as the new head coach of the franchise ahead of the Abu Dhabi T10 scheduled to be held at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The tournament is being staged under the aegis of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), with official approval of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Flower joins Maratha Arabians after finishing a 12-year stint with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in various capacities with both the English senior men’s team and the High Performance Centre at Loughborough. During his stint as England head coach, Flower led England’s Test side to No 1 in the world, victory at the 2010 World Twenty20 and Ashes success in Australia in 2010-11.

Speaking about his appointment, Flower said: “I have just come off a tremendous run with English cricket and am now looking ahead to the future with hope. Anything that is new and is innovative like T10 cricket always has an automatic appeal. From a coaching perspective it presents new challenges to test yourself against in a world-class environment. I am looking forward to joining forces with some of the world’s best players for Maratha Arabians. I share the enthusiasm of our team owners in building a world-class franchise.”

Maratha Arabians is co-owned by Parvez Khan of Pacific Ventures, Bollywood Actor/Producer/Director Sohail Khan and Ali Tumbi of Aqua Properties.

Meanwhile, former West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo will continue to lead the franchise like in the previous edition. Ahead of the players’ draft on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, the franchise also named their other retentions for the season including Sri Lankan T20I captain Lasith Malinga, apart from the Afghanistan duo of Hazratullah Zazai and Najeebullah Zadran.

Australia’s power-hitting batsman Chris Lynn was named the icon player of the franchise

Maratha Arabians Co-owner Sohail Khan said: “It is terrific to have a world-class cricketer and coach like Andy (Flower) as our head coach. He is a terrific addition to our squad because he comes with a fantastic track record. I am certain that we will have a perfect finish to our campaign this time around.”

Maratha Arabians Co-owner Parvez Khan said: “At Pacific Ventures we have always been closely associated with cricket. The presence of a thinking coach like Andy will add a lot of depth to the squad because we have some terrific players in our line-up like Dwayne (Bravo), Lasith (Malinga) amongst a whole host of others. I am certain that we will do well this season.”

Maratha Arabians Co-owner Ali Tumbi said: “I am sure we will assemble a tremendous squad that will fight for every inch throughout the tournament. We certainly have the best short-format players in the world.”