Flower seen as mastermind of England’s Ashes series marvel

SYDNEY - England cricket coach Andy Flower is being seen as the mastermind behind the team’s Ashes series triumph against Australia.

According to the Sun, Flower has been calm, brave and methodical in plotting Australia’s downfall months before the team arrived in Perth on October 29.

He even overcame a brush with skin cancer on the way to sealing England’s first win in Australia for 24 years.

Planning and preparation has been key. England are fitter and stronger than Australia, field better, have superior plans for opposing batsman allied to a greater team spirit.

This is no accident. Flower has a backroom team that looks after every aspect.

They helped the players but never pampered them. Training was intense with the pressure cranked up. Players would often not bat or bowl until after a flat-out circuit session.

They were at times knackered before they started.

Flower said: “Jonathan Trott improved his fitness and fielding beyond recognition. That’s down to Huw Bevan, the strength and conditioning coach, and Richard Halsall, our fielding man.

“These guys have been superb. Look at Graham Gooch’s work with the batsmen and how we posted four totals of 500 plus this series.

“David Saker has helped the quick bowlers so much. He’s an Aussie and knows the conditions here but their skills have improved, too.

“But these guys don’t want the credit. It’s the players who put plans into practice, perform and make good decisions under pressure. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. We want to be No 1 in the world. It will take time but it is a big motivation for me. I’m motivated by working with such a special group,” Flower said.

Flower commands total dressing-room respect.

First, he was a brilliant batsman for Zimbabwe with a Test career average of more than 50 and was once rated world No 1.

This gives him the authority his predecessor, Peter Moores, never possessed.

But there is more, much more. At the 2003 World Cup, Flower wore a black armband during a match in Harare to mourn the ‘death of democracy’ in Zimbabwe.

It is no exaggeration to say Flower risked his life protesting against Robert Mugabe’s tyrannical regime.

The players know their boss is a man not to be trifled with. At the end of last season, Flower took the squad to Germany for a training camp based on tough physical challenges, which included sleep deprivation.

Most players hated the idea. They wanted to be at home after a long, hard summer. But Flower was adamant - and right. The bonding that occurred grew into an unbreakable team spirit that helped England in the tough times here, especially after being buried in the Third Test in Perth. (ANI)