Andy Flower, A man who knows!!

Andy Flower has helped England to the top of the Test rankings

England coach Andy Flower has warned the International Cricket Council (ICC) it must act to prevent the lucrative Twenty20 format having a negative long-term impact on the Test game.

The Zimbabwean believes Sri Lankan bowler Lasith Malinga's retirement from Test cricket to concentrate on the shorter formats is a dangerous sign.

Flower said: "The rewards out there for playing less cricket are obvious.

"The ICC has to address that as a serious problem looming in the future."

Flower also thinks the ICC's financial considerations play too great a part in the planning of fixture lists in the international game.

He added: "They have to act very responsibly and make decisions on what's good for the game in the future. I'm not sure that's the case at the moment."

Flower said he could not understand why one-day international series routinely stretched to seven games when some Test series, like the ongoing one between South Africa and Australia, are only two matches long.

"The intent behind creating the fixture list has to be addressed," he added.

"We want to find out who the best side in the world is and we want to have them competing in exciting conditions and exciting series.

"But at the moment the intent is a financial one and that's why the fixture list is comprised [the way it is]."






A lot of the point's that Flower makes, are what a lot of you guy's have been saying in recent post's.

Why can the ICC not see this. Money yes, but at what cost to the sport??.

it's not just cricket that's struggling with this, but yeah the ICC seems to be basically running a business nowadays, trying to make as much money as possible in a short-ish period of time, and let someone else sort out the mess they leave us in. Trouble is, test matches being played over five days makes it a risk financially, as if the test match is too short you lose out, but if it's long and dull no one comes so again you lose out. With ODIs, once people have bought their ticket for the day that's that (unless it rains maybe).

Flower is spot on IMO, there's no way England-SA next year should be just three tests (we used to play five against SA) whereas for some reason Aus are coming over for a five match ODI series. As for SA-Aus two tests, it's quite frankly an insult to the sport.

PS: could you please remove the apostrophe from your title, it's driving me mad (sorry)

Mad for Chelsea wrote:it's not just cricket that's struggling with this, but yeah the ICC seems to be basically running a business nowadays, trying to make as much money as possible in a short-ish period of time, and let someone else sort out the mess they leave us in. Trouble is, test matches being played over five days makes it a risk financially, as if the test match is too short you lose out, but if it's long and dull no one comes so again you lose out. With ODIs, once people have bought their ticket for the day that's that (unless it rains maybe).

Flower is spot on IMO, there's no way England-SA next year should be just three tests (we used to play five against SA) whereas for some reason Aus are coming over for a five match ODI series. As for SA-Aus two tests, it's quite frankly an insult to the sport.

PS: could you please remove the apostrophe from your title, it's driving me mad (sorry)

LOL Grammar, never was my strong suit, DONE, just for you

malinga has had a persistent knee injury that meant that he has played 2 test matches since december 2007

those 2 tests were the first and third matches of a three test series against inida where he had to be left out of the second test to rest his knee from the damage he had done to it from the first game

i am not disagreeing with the principle of what flower is saying but using malinga as a justification for it shows a lack of knowledge tbh

rich1uk wrote:malinga has had a persistent knee injury that meant that he has played 2 test matches since december 2007

those 2 tests were the first and third matches of a three test series against inida where he had to be left out of the second test to rest his knee from the damage he had done to it from the first game

i am not disagreeing with the principle of what flower is saying but using malinga as a justification for it shows a lack of knowledge tbh

You are right, Malinga, did say at the time he was quitting Test cricket because it was too punishing on his body, so probably not a strong point from Flower. The rest of his points were spot on though.

The lack of knowledge remark was a bit much though, even if it was just for his one mistake. I am sure even Andy Flower does not read every paper/article or cricket internet site. Maybe the backroom boys should have helped him out with his statements, such is the current norm.

well the malinga comment was right up front and the only real example given of the point he was making and i think very unfair on malinga , a guy whos full time job is in cricket should have known more about malingas situation imo

and this is coming from someone who has a very high opinion of flower and what he has done in the game

Good points, just a brain blip from Andy.