Flower hopes England’s WAGs will be ‘good distraction’ ahead of Perth Ashes Test

PERTH - England cricketers’ wives and girlfriends (WAGs) have started arriving in Australia to join the team ahead of the third Ashes Test, starting in Perth from Thursday.

“Most of the wives and families are here and hopefully it will have a positive impact on the team,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted England coach Andy Flower, as saying.

“I hope the timing is right now so, if anything, it is a good distraction. We tried to time it so that by the time the families arrived it would be the optimum moment for a change of environment, which would be a healthy thing. Hopefully it works out that way,” he added.

Flower acknowledged that some players were unhappy about the delayed arrival.

“We’ve got a group of almost 30 people so you are not going to get all the players and all the management to agree on the dates allowed,” Flower said.

“Someone has to make a decision and draw the line and that was me. Hopefully it works out OK,” he added.

Earlier, Flower had barred his players from seeing their WAGs for the first five weeks of the tour.

“We need that period at the start of the tour with no families present. It is important to get together and focus fully on the game,” Flower had said.

It was a big change from recent England tours, but Flower claimed that he was heeding the lessons of the disastrous 5-0 whitewash four years ago when several players had families present for much of the tour. (ANI)