Flower confident of bowling coach Saker staying on with England

SYDNEY - England coach Andy Flower has played down suggestions that bowling coach David Saker will follow the paths of Troy Cooley and Dene Hills in quitting the team to return to Australia.

The Australian, who was appointed in April, has played a vital role in the team’s success, including in the ongoing Ashes series.

Cooley had resigned as England’s bowling coach following its 2005 Ashes victory to coach Australia’s bowlers, while performance analyst Hills had returned last month after quitting as England’s lead batting coach.

With Saker given only a short-term contract, the British media have raised the prospect of the 44-year-old leaving after the series given the looming bowling-coach vacancy in the Australian team, The Age reports.

However, Flower said: “I’m pretty sure he will be committing himself to us pretty soon.” (ANI)