Flower Speaks on England Coach Job

Sport
ENGLAND assistant coach Andy Flower was cool on the idea of taking over as head coach before his side departed for the tour of the West Indies on Wednesday.

ENGLAND assistant coach Andy Flower was cool on the idea of taking over as head coach before his side departed for the tour of the West Indies on Wednesday.

Zimbabwean Flower also insisted he had no problem with ex-skipper Kevin Pietersen, who it has emerged wanted him axed along with former head coach Peter Moores.

“I will be taking over some of Peter’s responsibilities, but I’m not sure I want the head coach job,” said Flower.

“I’ve had a chat with Kevin. We’ve always had a good relationship.”

Following Pietersen and Moores’ dismissal earlier this month, Flower learned Pietersen also requested his own departure as part of the management cull.

“The severity and speed of what happened took me by surprise. The whole affair was sad for everyone,” said the former Essex and Zimbabwe batsman.

“I’ve had a chat with Kevin about stuff. From what I can understand Kevin did want a regime change.

“But I haven’t gone into any specifics with him on that front. It’s always been an honest and open relationship so I don’t see any problem.

“Kevin and I have had our differences and I do with a lot of the guys when we’re debating things. It’s healthy to debate things.”

On Tuesday, new England skipper Andrew Strauss outlined his vision for the team by declaring players would take greater responsibility for their own preparation.

With this would also come greater accountability for events on the pitch, with the coaching team reduced to an advisory role, offering support and guidance.

England have chosen not to replace Moores for the West Indies tour, which features four Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match.

However, Flower, who rejected the position of “interim coach”, travels as the most senior member of the backroom staff.

“I’m still called assistant coach, my contract hasn’t changed in that regard,” he said. “I want to play it by ear a little bit and see how the next month goes.

“I don’t know when they’re advertising the job and want applications in. I’d rather see what happens.“It was important for me to step back from being interim coach.

For the purposes of the short term it was better to keep my contract as it is.

“I’m aware that a new coach could come in and say ‘thanks but bye’. That’s the job we’re in and that might happen. It’s going that way on the cricket front.

“But I’d like to stay involved and that’s partly the reason we need to play it by ear.”

And Flower said he was happy to work within the new framework laid down by Strauss.

“There’s always a balance that we need to find as coaches in terms of what a players wants and what he needs,” he said.

“Certainly Andrew wants coaches to play a more supportive role. He came through the Duncan Fletcher model of coach-player relationship. I’m quite happy to support Andrew in this role”. – BBC Sports.