This English facet has formidable gamers to be in profitable place towards India: Andy Flower

Image Source : GETTY Andy Flower
He was among the many key plotters of England’s historic 2012 Test triumph in India and former coach Andy Flower sees no purpose why an encore just isn’t potential this 12 months as he believes the guests have sufficient “formidable players” to problem the upbeat hosts.
The spin duo of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, together with the magnificent Kevin Pietersen, had been the architects of England’s 2-1 sequence win that 12 months, the one victory by an abroad workforce in India over the past decade

Flower, a former Zimbabwe captain and one in every of England’s most profitable coaches in latest historical past, did not wish to get into predictions however cited India’s exceptional Test conquest of Australia to claim the purpose that guests are now not underdogs within the longest format.
“India won a T20 series, the Melbourne and Brisbane Tests this year and a Test series a couple of years ago in Australia, which goes to show that there are ample opportunities for visiting squads to make a mark,” Flower advised PTI in an interview.
“The nature of cricket has changed, as both batsmen and bowlers have become more athletic, backed by an aggressive outlook. It must be viewed through the lens of changes taking place around us, and it will not be so monotonous anymore as we shall begin to see patterns,” he stated.
Asked to choose a favorite for the four-Test sequence beginning February 5 in Chennai, Flower declined.
“It would be premature to declare the direction in which the fortunes of any team would swing. However, the English side has a formidable combination of players who can set themselves into comfortable or winning situations,” Flower stated.
He was clearly referring to the likes of skipper Joe Root together with the tempo duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and to not overlook that powerhouse of all-round expertise known as Ben Stokes.
Flower stated that the sequence, like each different contest, could be about how one seizes important moments.
“A lot will depend on the game day, and the star performers’ ability to convert critical opportunities. The English squad has some amazing players who have excelled in all formats of the game,” the Zimbabwean stated.
A number of England’s Test success will be credited to the champion tempo bowling duo of Broad and Anderson, who between them, have a whopping 1100 plus Test wickets.
Flower admitted that after the 2 go away, it will likely be onerous to fill of their huge footwear.
“All teams undergo such periods of transition when they have to replace star performers that are phasing out,” stated Flower.
“Building a fierce bowling assault usually takes some period of time, and each Anderson and Broad have dominated the tempo assault for England for little over a decade.
“They will be leaving a memorable legacy behind, and the new set of bowlers have large shoes to fill,” stated the gritty left-hander of yesteryears, who himself loved a variety of success within the sub-continent.

Asked to establish the successors, Flower got here up with the very dynamic Jofra Archer’s identify amongst others.
“…bowlers like pacer Jofra Archer, newer entrants like Ollie Robinson, Sadiq Mahmood, and all-rounder Sam Curran etc. need to be given the necessary support to create a depth in bowling.”
England could be coming into the sequence after beating Sri Lanka in their very own yard, a assured build-up to what’s prone to be a gruelling task subsequent month.
India, however, cannot be faulted if they’re nonetheless a bit giddy after that epic win over Australia in Brisbane, which earned them all-round reward and respect.
Flower feels that previously few years, the sport’s conventional format has develop into far more aggressive and attention-grabbing.
“…as we can now see matches being decided or ending in result. This is in contrast to Test cricket at least until a decade ago when drawn matches were more commonplace, and batsmen played longer innings,” he identified.
In latest occasions, there was a pattern of high batsmen enjoying categorical tempo properly however arising quick towards swing bowling.These embrace Indian gamers who have not accomplished properly towards Anderson, Broad or a Trent Boult for instance.
“It just isn’t essentially true for all worldwide batsmen, as it’s got extra to do with preparation for a sequence and studying the bowlers’ techniques proper,’ stated Flower, who performed 63 Tests and 213 ODIs for Zimbabwe.
He then cited the components that, at occasions, result in questionable method.
“It could be due to the players not adjusting to the conditions, (not) taking the right guard while batting, or even the movement of feet, head weight and body,” he defined.
“It often takes long and arduous preparation to adjust to swing, and it is not undoable.”
Flower, who has been one of many coaches within the Kings XI Punjab set-up over the past IPL, is now in Abu Dhabi the place he’s the coach of the Delhi Bulls workforce within the T10 league beginning Friday.
“I’ve accomplished one 12 months of teaching in franchises as coach and assistant coach, together with Kings XI Punjab, and it was thrilling to confront challenges and resolve conditions.
“I shall be looking at another year of that and probably assess where my coaching career will go from that point.”
So is he recreation if BCCI gives him a job in close to future?
“Obviously, India is one of the greatest Test nations in the world, and it would be an honour for anyone to coach such an impeccable side,” he concluded.