Flower and Strauss Blossoming Well For England

The pairing of Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss has started to blossom can take a lost of credit for England’s performance against West Indies in the test and one day series. Many will argue they were playing a West Indies team who had no interest in competing but you can only play what is put in front of you.

The convincing wins they have had against West Indies was what they needed after horrendous winter and they made tough decisions with dropping Vaughan, Bell and Harmison with brining in Bopara, Onions and Bresenan. What would have pleased Flower and Strauss is that the players they have bought in and have performed and played a big part also you have to include the performances of Anderson, Broad, Swann and Prior have been outstanding.

What Flower and Strauss have done is they have got the enjoyment factor back in the team and enjoying each others success which is the most important that will ultimately bring success. Also what is noticeable is attitude of the players and the energy they have individually and as a team which was questionable when they played India and West Indies in the winter.

Andrew Strauss’s captaincy is improving and is learning how to use players in certain situations whether it may be with the batting order or the bowling changes he had made. England after Vaughan’s captaincy in 2005 there was a predictability about England and allowed oppositions to plan and with England coming into a massive summer with the main course being the Ashes Strauss will need to outthink and tactical outsmart Ponting like Vaughan did so well. Strauss seems to be learning on the job which is a must but also learning from Andy Flower who is very astute cricket man whose ideas have been well taken by the team.

Past England teams would have made excuses when they have lost and would have rued the fact there main players have been injured or out of form particularly Flintoff and Pietersen. But what Flower and Strauss have done is that they have given new and old players the confidence they can perform and they can take the mantle from other players which is vital for England to move forward and to win back the Ashes. The realism is that Flintoff may not be full fit and may only play a few tests which will not allow to have the impact he had in 2005 and where players such as Prior, Swann and Bresenan will play vital roles in the Ashes series.

There is a long way before we can see if the Flower Strauss partnerships will be a success and if they win the Ashes they will be hailed all as heroes with the rest of the England team. If they don’t lose sport can be cruel game and that could be the end of there partnership.

One word for Peter Moores whose time as England coach was not successful but it is good to see that he is having a positive impact at Lancashire.