The Great Game Called Cricket...

Andy Flower

Zimbabwe Full name Andrew Flower

Born April 28, 1968, Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa

Current age 41 years 174 days

Major teams Zimbabwe, Essex, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mashonaland, South Australia

Nickname Petals

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

Fielding position Wicketkeeper

Other Coach

Height 5 ft 10 in

Education Vainona High School

Relation Brother - GW Flower

Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 63 112 19 4794 232* 51.54 10636 45.07 12 27 543 20 151 9
ODIs 213 208 16 6786 145 35.34 9097 74.59 4 55 141 32
First-class 223 372 69 16379 271* 54.05 49 75 361 21
List A 380 366 45 12511 145 38.97 12 97 254 48
Twenty20 21 20 2 595 83 33.05 481 123.70 0 4 70 8 6 0
Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 63 2 3 4 0 - - - 8.00 - 0 0 0
ODIs 213 2 30 23 0 - - - 4.60 - 0 0 0
First-class 223 629 270 7 1/1 38.57 2.57 89.8 0 0
List A 380 132 103 1 1/21 1/21 103.00 4.68 132.0 0 0 0
Twenty20 21 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Career statistics Test debut Zimbabwe v India at Harare, Oct 18-22, 1992 scorecard
Last Test Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Bulawayo, Nov 16-19, 2002 scorecard

ODI debut Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at New Plymouth, Feb 23, 1992 scorecard
Last ODI Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, Mar 15, 2003 scorecard

First-class debut 1986/87
Last First-class Leicestershire v Essex at Leicester, Sep 20-23, 2006 scorecard
List A debut 1988/89
Last List A Durham v Essex at Chester-le-Street, Sep 17, 2006 scorecard
Twenty20 debut Surrey v Essex at East Molesey, Jun 14, 2003 scorecard
Last Twenty20 Surrey v Essex at The Oval, Jul 1, 2006 scorecard
Profile
The elder of two Test-playing brothers, Andy Flower was for a long time Zimbabwe's only batsman of true Test quality in all conditions. For a period of about two years from the start of 2000 he was so phenomenally consistent that he has no rival as the best player in Zimbabwe's history.

Flower continued to take on the tough roles, moving into coaching within the England set-up, firstly as assistant to Peter Moores and then, after the very public falling out between Moores and Kevin Pietersen, he was named interim coach for the 2009 West Indies tour. A few weeks after that trip the top job - team director - came his way.

He had two stints as Zimbabwe captain, leading them to their first Test victory against Pakistan in 1994-95, and then becoming the first Zimbabwean to lead a Test tour of England, in 2000. An assured player of fast bowling since his early days as an opener, Flower matured into one of the best players of spin in the world, and on the Indian tour early in 2001 he made 540 runs for twice out.

Opposing bowlers targeted him accordingly and after a phenomenal Test against South Africa at Harare, when he made 142 and 199 not out, he suffered a rare slump. He announced his retirement from international cricket after a turbulent 2003 World Cup, which started with an unprecedented protest by Flower, and his equally brave team-mate Henry Olonga, about what they called the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe. Flower played for Essex from 2002 until 2006, and enjoyed a season in South Australia in 2003-04.

He was joined at Essex by his brother Grant in 2005, and they became the first brothers to score first-class centuries for the county in the same innings against Lancashire that year. But injury ruled him out of the 2007 season, and when the offer came to become England's assistant coach, he retired and took it.

But any thoughts of enjoying a few years under the wing of Peter Moores vanished in early January 2009 and less than 48 hours later he was thrust in charge of the national team. When England crumbled for 51 in Jamaica, Flower's calm but authoritative response impressed many and his standing improved throughout the tour. He has confronted many challenges in his career, but coaching England will rival any of them.

Notes
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2002