Former Zimbabwe captain and England head coach, Andy Flower, has joined the Australian team as a consultant ahead of the World Test Championship Final against India.
Flower, renowned for his successful tenure as England’s coach from 2009 to 2014, will provide his expertise to the Australian team leading up to the WTC final against the top-ranked Indian side.
Flower, who currently manages the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants, will be assisting the Australian camp as they prepare for the highly-anticipated final, set to commence at The Oval on Wednesday. This upcoming final marks the second edition of the World Test Championship, and The Oval will witness its first-ever Test match in June, adding historical significance to the event.
While Flower won’t be initially present during the Ashes series, it is anticipated that he will join the Australian camp at a later stage. Flower, a former Zimbabwe captain and accomplished wicketkeeper-batsman, is widely regarded as one of England’s most successful coaches.
Under his guidance, the England team achieved three consecutive Ashes victories in the 21st century, including memorable triumphs in 2009 and 2013 on home soil, as well as an impressive win in Australia during the 2010-11 series.
The addition of Flower to the coaching staff is expected to raise expectations for Pat Cummins’ Australian team as they strive to become the first Australian side to win an Ashes series in England since 2001. Cummins expressed his confidence in Flower’s contribution, highlighting his experience and familiarity with English conditions. He stated, “He brings experience over here, and knows these conditions really well. He knows the opposition well, so if he can give us even one little bit of insight into playing in England that we haven’t thought about then it’s totally worth it.”
Related
