Andy Flower sacked

[Arthur Crabtree]

Interesting theory from Adi.

The Flower years have their own identity and feel very much an era, a rise and a fall. He did well in getting us out of a slump, and gave us a couple of years of very high quality cricket, peaking in an overwhelming win in Australia. The decline goes back further than many recognised, but even that included a landmark win in India.

My impression of Flower is of a meticulous and dedicated person, and his well known integrity was only undermined by the supposed leaking of his ultimatum over Pietersen. He denies this. So we may as well let that one go. But discord behind the scenes and a continual problem with tired, enervated players may well suggest a fallibility concerning man management.

There have been indications that he isn't really the man to create a new side. He hasn't brought new players though, and he has been culpable of a lack of flexibility. In Australia we were unable to adapt to the hosts' plans, and Lehmann seemed to continually set the agenda for the contest. Five years feels a long time to do what Flower has been doing, and it was time for a change. He'll be remembered as a good thing for English cricket, but not without qualification.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Safe to say he wasn't sacked, will remain on as a selector.

A selector? I thought he was going to coach.

It may be that Flower went because he felt one man should look after all the teams? Which is what the bbc suggests.

[Aidan11]

Safe to say he wasn't sacked, will remain on as a selector.

A selector? I thought he was going to coach.

It may be that Flower went because he felt one man should look after all the teams? Which is what the bbc suggests.

No problem with that. As long as that one man isn't Ashley Giles.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Gooch
Saker
Mushtaq

Who is the fielding coach? Not sure you cab blame the coaches, but there are problems in all departments.

I wonder if any of these will move on.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Safe to say he wasn't sacked, will remain on as a selector.

A selector? I thought he was going to coach.

It may be that Flower went because he felt one man should look after all the teams? Which is what the bbc suggests.

No problem with that. As long as that one man isn't Ashley Giles.

When will they put Botham in charge of the whole lot?

(irony alert)

[Making_Splinters]

Glad to see the back of him.

No doubt that he was pushed given his very clear statements that he wanted to stay in the very recent past.

I'd be very suprised if Giles isn't named as head coach.

[Arthur Crabtree]

"Andy Flower has today informed the England and Wales Cricket Board that he wishes to step down after five successful years as England Team Director.

"Paul Downton, who met with Andy Flower this week, said: 'Andy has been the most successful coach in England's history and we at the ECB are very disappointed to see him leave the role as Team Director.

"'We respect his decision and the reasons for it but we are keen to keep Andy's experience and outstanding knowledge within the ECB. We are at advance stages of negotiating a role for Andy within the ECB structure which will best utilise his undoubted skills.'

This is the official ECB statement. It's quite clear that Flower stood down, unless the ECB is saying this as either, not to undermine his reputaton/dignity/etc, or as part of a deal. This is what Flower said:


'Following the recent very disappointing Ashes defeat it is clear to me that this is now time for England cricket, led by Alastair Cook, to rebuild with a new set of values and goals. The opportunity to start with a clean slate and begin to instil methods to ensure England cricket is moving in the right direction will be an incredibly exciting challenge for someone but I do not feel like I am in a position to undertake that challenge.

"'In order for England cricket to make significant progress I believe that the Team Director, together with the respective captains, needs to be responsible across all formats in order to positively influence the rebuilding process. This will ensure complete clarity and continuity across the squads and having stepped aside from the limited overs squads 14 months ago that is not something I am able to do and I do not therefore feel that starting the process would be in the best interests of all involved at what is a pivotal time for England cricket.

"'This has been a very difficult decision to make and I remain committed to England cricket and would like to wish Alastair Cook and Paul Downton every success. I will remain in my position as a selector for the time being and am currently exploring possible roles within the ECB. The priority must now be to establish the direction and personnel needed to ensure England cricket moves forward.'"

So in leaving, he endorses Cook's position, which doesn't seem to be within his power, any longer.

[Durhamfootman]

Pietersen 2 - 0 Head coaches

[Making_Splinters]

I think the idea that Flower stepped down completely of his own accord is somewhat laughable.

You can't seriously buy into the idea that Flower, who was very public in his intentions to stay on has, in a matter of weeks, completely changed his mind.

[Alviro Patterson]

I think the idea that Flower stepped down completely of his own accord is somewhat laughable.

You can't seriously buy into the idea that Flower, who was very public in his intentions to stay on has, in a matter of weeks, completely changed his mind.

The man who led England to their maiden ICC trophy and achieved no1 status in all three formats, surely that acts a spur to carry on and especially when County Cricket is flourishing of talented prospects.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I suppose taking an ECB statement at face value does feel willfully naive. But he talked of taking up more responsibility with greater control of the England team. Maybe that was refused, and he decided to move on. The fact that he's still working at the ECB doesn't really fit with him being sacked.

[Arthur Crabtree]

At least he got to go as he would have wanted. With an unsubstantiated leak to a national newspaper.

[D/L]

Pietersen 2 - 0 Head coaches

A big own goal against Pietersen, though, when he lost the captaincy following his devious subterfuge against Moores. Also, If the sum total of all his less savoury actions have limited his future England prospects, which they should have, it will be more like 2-2.

However Flower or the ECB dress it up, and it seems obvious that they have agreed a form of words between them to minimise controversy, Flower has been sacked as coach of the test side but will receive compensation, be it financial or career related, or both, that he will be satisfied with.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think the idea that Flower stepped down completely of his own accord is somewhat laughable.

You can't seriously buy into the idea that Flower, who was very public in his intentions to stay on has, in a matter of weeks, completely changed his mind.

By the way, Mike Selvey is saying that Flower will take on a job preparing and educating coaches. Presumably the ECB wouldn't sack the 'Team Director' and then give him a job coaching coaches!?

[bigfluffylemon]

Someone had to go after this shambolic tour, and given Cook's relative youth and the fact he's only been captain for 18 months, it was unlikely to be him. Flower was the obvious choice.

Gooch and Saker's roles have to be very shaky too.