Andy Flower named new England coach

London: Former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Andy Flower was confirmed as England's new team director on Tuesday by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Flower, an assistant coach with England for the past two years since retiring from playing for Essex, had been in temporary charge since Peter Moores was sacked in January.

The 40-year-old, who once wore a black armband while playing for Zimbabwe in protest at the policies of president Robert Mugabe, was named in his role at a news conference at Lord's.

Flower, who acted as Moores's assistant in 2007, takes over the top job in English cricket after overseeing the recent tour of the West Indies.

Crucially he had the support of players like England skipper Andrew Strauss and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who were impressed by his man-management in the Caribbean.

Under his management England were defeated in the Test series before securing a 3-2 victory in the one-day series.

Do you think Andy Flower is the right choice? Will he be able to handle the pressure that comes with the title?

He is a top man and has always been one of my favourites from Zimbabwe! However, England? The media attention that comes with the job will be huge and perhaps it might be way too much pressure to handle with such a title. With the Ashes coming to England, and other major tournaments ahead, all eyes will be on him how he will take the team forward.
Kazi Hoque
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2009, 17:24

Yes. I feel under the guideline of Andy flower England will be taste some victories in near future, because Andy flower having good understanding between English players and he was played more then 15 years cricket in International as well as county matches in English soil also. Now this present situation England needs good captain and good coach for getting future victories. But the team want some changes in near future especially in bowling side and they want produce some all rounders like Andrew Flintoff.
Syed Ashlam LP(BK)
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2009, 16:18

I feel the present suituation england performannce is not so good but anyway they won this caribbean series against west indies under andy flower as a coach. At present we can't tell anything about andy flower because after 2 or more seriis only we came to know the sytle of this coach. The same suituation was happend in india when Gary kirsten was appointed as a coach for india last year. Under his perfomance india is doing good. like it will take some time to measure flower choice.
Mohammad Yasin
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2009, 08:50

Yes he can play a better role than any body also because he is from a small and poor country and these people working with the bottom of heart and as far as i belive and experienced if you are working with heart then you will never be disappointed.
Hukam Saeed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 16, 2009, 07:18