Even as the IPL continues its juggernaut, the other important aspect of Indian cricket is assuming serious proportions for another team. England and Wales Cricket Board are believed to be worried about the BCCI poaching Andy Flower apparently identified as suitable successors by Gary Kirsten to be India's coach.
andy flower in india
Ever since Gary Kirsten addressed his final press conference as the Indian coach, there has been intense speculation about who would fill in the shoes given that India are now the no.1 Test team and have just won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
While Stephen Fleming's name did the rounds, the Chennai Super Kings coach and former New Zealand captain in the IPL seems unlikely to entertain the offer given that he has been reluctant to spend more time than what an IPL stint would accord. But Fleming may not have been a bad choice after all given that he was considered an innovative captain amongst his contemporaries and works rather well with Mahendra Singh Dhoni who doubles up as the Indian captain as well as the Chennai Super Kings coach.
But new reports in the media suggest a twist in the tale. Although it is not confirmed if it was Gary Kirsten himself who suggested the names of the England coach, Andy Flower, or the former England coach, Duncan Fletcher. What seems though the case now is that Flower who took over after the ugly fiasco that followed the fall out between Peter Moores and the then England captain, Kevin Pietersen, is being perceived as being lured by the BCCI to consider a coaching role for the Indian cricket team.
Flower is yet to renew his contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB ) who are now apparently eager to keep the coach and former Zimbabwe cricketer sealed within their plans. England have tasted plenty of success with Flower in the head coach role with the Ashes of 2009 at home to win the Ashes back to back once more, this time in Australia. In the midst of it, England survived the tour of South Africa, hanging in tall and believed that they could actually challenge India in the Test format. Their victory in the ICC World Twenty20 2010 in the Caribbean broke their dearth of ICC tournament victories.
With that kind of success which saw England make the quarterfinals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, England do not want to throw things into a turmoil and are instead counting on Flower to not entertain the prospect of India's coaching job despite the pay cheque citing India's tough, unforgiving schedules. The ECB are hoping to rope in Flower yet again on a long term basis to prevent the possibility of his exit to India.
Another man's name has also come up in the midst, that of Duncan Fletcher under whom England won the Ashes 2005. Fletcher has also recently worked with the South African cricket team on a consultant basis and rated highly as a coach, although he has not committed himself to any international team on a long term coaching basis since leaving the England job.
Related Stories
Did the BCCI Settle in on 'Consolation' Coach Duncan Fletcher without Flower & Fleming?
It would seem that while Duncan Fletcher would be a strong choice for the Indian coach's position, there are also feelers suggesting that the plans to pick India's coach to follow in the footsteps of Gary Kirsten did not go exactly as...
Wessels Alleges Kirsten’s Free Reign of Indian Cricketers Affecting Coach Duncan Fletcher
This is sometimes that is emerging as another debate in the forefront in light of India’s Test series defeat in England where there is the perception that the Indian cricketers have been used to having their way and it has cost them their pride and the
Trevor Penny - India's Fielding Coach Courtesy Duncan Fletcher?
Robin Singh may have reasons to feel aggrieved as the word on the street is that Duncan Fletcher, the Indian coach, will take up his first assignment with a new fielding coach for team India in fellow Zimbabwean Trevor Penny. The Indian cricket...
100th Test as International Coach for Duncan Fletcher
As if the milestones involving the first Test between India and England are not enough, Duncan Fletcher joined the list as the first cricket coach to touch the 100th Test mark at Lord’s in Test cricket’s 2000th Test. Duncan Fletcher took over from Ga
Virat Kohli And Co. Enjoy Bike Ride before Formula One Racing ( See Pics)
Is it not known that the Indian cricketers can also love demons of speed? Even as some of the Indian cricket team will fly to Noida for the first Formula One Indian Grand Prix, they did enjoy bike rides, although not on the circuit, with the keys firmly w
