Flower fears losing bowling coach Saker to Australia

LONDON - England coach Andy Flower fears that he may lose another member of his staff if bowling coach David Saker decides to go back to Australia.

Saker is thought to be the favorite to be Australia’s next bowling coach following Troy Cooley’s exit, the Sun reports.

The former Australian fast bowler, who had been assistant coach of Victoria for six years, is believed to be tempted by the prospect of working in his home country.

Flower has already lost batting coach Dene Hills, who went back to Australia.

It is pertinent to mention that Saker had earlier made it clear that his loyalties were with the England team.

“My loyalty is definitely with England. I worked for the Victorian cricket team, I didn’t work for the Australian cricket team. I never got asked to work for the Australian cricket team, not at any stage have I done any work for the Australian cricket team at international level,” Saker had said.

“As soon as I got offered the job working in international cricket my loyalties straight away went to that team, whether it was India, Pakistan, West Indies or whatever. It ended up being England and that’s where my loyalties went straight away.”

“I’ve still got a soft spot for Victorian cricket and I watch Australian cricket with a lot of interest, but I’ve embraced the English culture and the English team like they’ve embraced me,” he added.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had appointed Saker after Ottis Gibson resigned to accept his appointment as West Indies coach in February. (ANI)