Andy Flower has said the successful blooding of a new generation of cricketers in the recent one-day series against India will provide an extra incentive for his senior players in the Test team to keep up the good work

Andrew Miller18-Sep-2011Andy Flower, the England coach, has said the successful blooding of a new generation of cricketers in the recent one-day series against India will provide an extra incentive for his senior players in the Test team to build on the high standards they produced in their rise to the top of the world rankings.Speaking in the aftermath of England’s impressive six-wicket win in the fifth and final ODI in Cardiff – a result which handed them a comprehensive 3-0 scoreline – Flower reflected that the international season “couldn’t have gone much better”. Nevertheless, he warned of the dangers of self-satisfaction creeping into the squad’s mentality, and said any player who dared to rest on his laurels risked paying for that attitude with his place.”I am delighted with the way the summer has gone, but at the risk of repeating ourselves we don’t just want to put our feet up and say, ‘Gee, it’s a lovely little time we have had together’,” said Flower. “If people aren’t hungry enough then I don’t think they will keep up with the side. They will drop out or be dropped out.”The hunger is very important because it drives you to train harder, it drives you to get out of bed early in the morning to go training. It drives you to do the extra work and to do your skills practice. To keep the weight off your body. It drives you to be inquisitive about maximising your potential.”If there is any self-satisfaction or too much contentment it can take you into a dangerous place. Our philosophy is to look forward and at the challenges ahead as opposed to those behind us. If you do look behind you, you are not planning properly for the future.”The dramatic arrival of the 21-year-old Yorkshire batsman Jonny Bairstow is a case in point. His nerveless debut innings of 41 not out from 21 balls not only secured a notable victory in a stiff run-chase in Cardiff, it served notice of the talent challenging for regular places in the England team, and reminded those players currently on the sidelines – Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen among them – that competition is healthy.”I can’t remember a debut like that,” said Flower. “It was very clean and impressive hitting. Not many people can strike it as cleanly as that. Not many people are that talented. He should be very proud of his performance and it is great to make an impact in international cricket straightaway, but let’s all keep level heads about it. Talk is cheap, but he did it with his actions, and he will continually be asked questions to repeat his performances out there in the middle when the pressure is on.”As Flower suggested, Bairstow’s “innocence” at international level may have helped him to shrug off the pressures of the match situation, and play each of his 21 balls on its merits. Though he wouldn’t be drawn on specific matters of selection ahead of the tour of India next month, Flower used an analogy from his own playing days with Zimbabwe to highlight the situation that England have now reached, with so many candidates pressing their claims for places in England’s various teams.”What it does re-emphasise to me is that opportunity is very important,” said Flower. “When we were given Test status, I was a little skeptical that we deserved it as a Test-playing nation, but I thought, ‘wow, what an opportunity’. I never thought I’d play international cricket. You’ve been given a chance, try to do something with it. These young guys have been given a chance and it’s very interesting to see how they’ve done against similar opposition. I think that’s been very informative for everyone and very exciting for the future of English cricket.”England’s one-day campaign hasn’t just been about Bairstow’s performance. Steven Finn filled the void left by James Anderson and Stuart Broad in Cardiff with his best spell to date in one-day cricket, while Jade Dernbach has shown the potential to become a truly innovative bowler, even if he hasn’t quite learned when to use his many slower-ball variations. Ravi Bopara overcame a torrid start to the series to produce key innings in each of the last three games, and Flower was delighted with the overall direction of his team.”The guys have been grabbing their opportunities, which is outstanding,” said Flower. “We have got a little bit of exposure into Ben Stokes – it has been exciting working with him – he is an exciting young player and a really good young man. Dernbach has got more exposure and experience against a really good one-day side, so a lot of good things have happened.”I have only been doing this job two-and-a-half years and a lot has happened – it is amazing how quickly things happen.”•Getty Images

“We’ve won in difficult situations – it has been a really good series in that regard,” added Flower. “We rested KP, we played Bell at No. 4, then through injuries other people have got chances. Finn, in the two chances we have given him, has been outstanding. His figures don’t suggest so but he looked really exciting as a fast bowler and he is going to be an integral part of the England attack over the next few years. Bairstow last night got his one chance and grabbed it with both hands, and it was nice for Ravi to see it right through to the end last night.”On a personal note, Flower was adamant that his own hunger for the England job matches that which he expects of his charges, not least having witnessed the sort of potential that has been displayed in the past fortnight.”I am excited,” he said. “I have only been doing this job two-and-a-half years and a lot has happened – it is amazing how quickly things happen. When I was given the job I said I wanted to make a difference and I still hope that can occur in the next couple of years. I am very proud of the way the guys are performing and it is interesting to see how the three captains [approach] pans out.”I am sure most coaches are the same – coaches or captains – you shouldn’t need motivation to play for your country. There are plenty of reasons to be motivated. It is more about channeling that energy and making sure it is organised and making sure, as far as possible, individuals are maximising their potential. I don’t think it is so much motivation – it is more how we manage that.”The side is going to vary along the way but English cricket has good resources – both financial and human. There are proud cricketing nations out there that are just as hungry as us so it is going to be a good battle. We can achieve very good things. That was a very young side we had out there – Swann I assume was the oldest – so that is a very young side to beat India.”

A round-up of the action from the third match day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Oct-2011Karnataka registered an impressive eight-wicket win against Tamil Nadu at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on day two of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2011-12, to go to the top of the South Zone points table. Tamil Nadu’s Dinesh Karthik scored a quick 52 with four fours and three sixes, and K Vasudevadas provided the innings some late momentum with 30 off 18. However, none of the other batsmen could go past 14 as the hosts managed only 131 for 9 on the relaid Chepauk pitch. Stuart Binny was Karnataka’s best bowler, claiming three wickets and conceding only 14 runs. Robin Uthappa then celebrated his return to the national Twenty20 team with 59 off 29 balls, ensuring Karnataka cruised in the chase. Bharat Chipli and Ganesh Satish built on the fine start with a half-century stand, and finished the match in the 17th over.The Andra Pradesh–Kerala match at the TI Cycles Ground was washed-out after only 3.1 overs. The teams get two points apiece.DB Ravi Teja continued his impressive form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and his 68 off 49 balls led Hyderabad to a nine-wicket win against Goa in Chennai. Chasing 131, Ravi Teja and T Suman, who made 45 off 38 balls, added 103 in 13 overs before Suman was dismissed. Ravi Teja, however, remained unbeaten when the winning runs were scored in 17.2 overs. A combined effort from Hyderabad’s bowlers – all six took at least a wicket – had dismissed Goa for 130 to help set up the victory. Abhishek Raut top scored with 31 and was one of only two batsmen to make more than 20. Syed Quadri took 3 for 25 for Hyderabad.

Having guided Australia through the turbulent first eight months of his captaincy, Michael Clarke is decidedly relieved to have a settled support staff

Daniel Brettig23-Nov-2011Having guided Australia through the turbulent first eight months of his captaincy, Michael Clarke is decidedly relieved to have a settled support staff – even if the new head coach Mickey Arthur was not his personal choice for the job.Clarke returned home from a dramatic but ultimately satisfying tour of South Africa on Wednesday, and though he has a surfeit of injuries to contend with, can look forward to tackling the home summer with a strong network around him.Along with Arthur, the team performance manager Pat Howard, the national selector John Inverarity, selectors Rod Marsh and Andy Bichel, Clarke will dial into the first major phone hook-up for the new selection panel on Thursday evening, to deliberate on the team for the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.The assembly of cricket experience and sporting intellect is striking, and Clarke also spoke warmly of the assistant coaches Steve Rixon, Justin Langer and Craig McDermott. Rixon was Clarke’s preference to become head coach, but pointed out that Arthur’s appointment would allow him to benefit from the knowledge of both.”I’m stoked we’ve got a coach. Mickey has done a fantastic job in the past with South Africa, and I’m really excited and looking forward to working with him,” Clarke said. “I’ve only spoken to him a handful of times either playing against him with South Africa or over the phone since he’s taken over with WA.”I think Australian cricket needed a coach to be appointed sooner rather than later and I’m stoked that James Sutherland and Pat Howard have put a certain amount of people through a process and Mickey Arthur’s come out on top, so I’m looking forward to working with him.”In my opinion I believe the coach needs to have the support staff around him that he wants and he needs, but if Stumper [Rixon] is the right man for the job, I’m sure Mickey will be more than supportive to see them around, as with Justin Langer and Craig McDermott.”They’re all under contract, I’m not sure how long to, but that’s a bonus for our team if you’ve got some very good cricket minds there, helping us out trying to get us to win games. I think really you’ve probably got the cake and eating it too with Mickey Arthur and Steve Rixon.”As Arthur’s predecessor Tim Nielsen observed, Clarke’s draining first few months in the job benefited from the enthusiasm of a new leader. The broadening of support beneath Clarke will now allow him to concentrate on his batting and tactical thinking as the captaincy starts to become less of a novelty.”It’ll probably make a few of our live a lot easier, that’s for sure. I’m as excited as anybody to get a coach on board,” Clarke said. “There’s been some things happening off the field for the last six months, but our job is to perform on the field.”The communication for me personally with James Sutherland has been outstanding, he’s kept me informed on everything that’s been happening, from the general manger to the selectors, to now the head coach, so they’ve tried to do their best and we’ve tried to do the same. It’s nice that it’s finished, we have our new general manager, our selectors and a head coach, so it’s another reason to be excited for what lies ahead.”Clarke delivered a chuckling “good luck” when informed that Arthur had likened the captain/coach relationship to marriage, but spoke frankly of the need to build a rapport in coming days. Only seven remain between now and the start of the first Test against New Zealand.”Since Mickey took over the job in WA, we’ve been in communication, talking about the WA player,s so there’s been back and forth communication for a while now,” Clarke said. “But the relationship is crucial, no doubt, straight away I respect him for everything he’s achieved as a player but also as a coach.”His success with the South African team is something that I’m sure would’ve played a part in him getting this job. He’s a true gentleman, a fantastic man, and I look forward to learning as much as I can from him and working together.”To me it doesn’t matter where you come from, if you’re the right man for the job, the best man for the job, then I believe you deserve to get it. The benefit of Mickey coming on board is he’s got some other great coaches around him in regard to Steve Rixon, Justin Langer and Craig McDermott. So some pretty smart cricket minds there, working together I can only see us having more success.”

On the same day he anointed Peter Siddle spearhead of Australia’s least seasoned bowling attack for 23 years, the head coach Mickey Arthur has stressed the spinner Nathan Lyon must also be prepared to play the role of a leader in the first Test against Ne

Daniel Brettig in Brisbane28-Nov-2011On the same day he anointed Peter Siddle spearhead of Australia’s least seasoned bowling attack for 23 years, the head coach Mickey Arthur has stressed the spinner Nathan Lyon must also be prepared to play the role of a leader in the first Test against New Zealand.Siddle and Arthur spoke at length during the team’s first training session in Brisbane, the Victorian paceman accepting the critical role he must play in a bowling quartet that will feature two debutants alongside himself and Lyon. James Pattinson is favoured to take the third spot, leaving the local man Ben Cutting to duel with Mitchell Starc’s left-arm for the final place. All will get the chance to influence the captain and selector Michael Clarke when he bats in the Gabba nets on Tuesday.Having selected the most callow Australian bowling ensemble since the 1988 Pakistan tour – the last time an XI was chosen with fewer than the 126 wickets this team can boast between its members – Arthur and Clarke must decide on a practical balance.Each of Pattinson, Cutting and Starc have been commonly used as aggressors by their states and are not so familiar with the hard graft of long spells, leaving Siddle to do much of the heavy lifting. Arthur said that Lyon, who has been ushered gently into Test cricket by Clarke over his first five Tests, would now have more to do.”That’s certainly going to be a role we’re going to need,” Arthur said. “I think our spinner can play that role quite effectively, I thought he bowled beautifully today, so I’m hoping he can play that role, and then we can rotate those guys.”Bowling at the Gabba, overs 0-30 is about getting the ball up and making the ball work for you, 30-60 is the hard work, rolling the sleeves up, hitting back of a length and building pressure, and hopefully 60-80 you can get the ball to reverse. I’m hoping that overs 30-60 the young guys can stand up and build that pressure as much as we need the pressure to be built at that time.”There’s going to be four real young bowlers, Pete Siddle is going to have to lead the attack for us, there’s no doubt about that. I had a chat to him about it this morning and he’s ready for that responsibility. But it is going to be interesting, we’ve got to look at what’s going to be the best attack, and who’s bowling the best and gives us the most variation.”Lyon has never bowled at the Gabba, but can expect to profit from the bounce and occasional turn available to a spin bowler with sufficient discipline. Graeme Swann struggled for traction on the ground in last year’s Ashes Test, but later said that was more to do with bowling badly than not finding any comfort in the surface.”At the Gabba if it’s done a little bit it generally starts a little bit soft, which allows a bit of grip,” Arthur said. “And the one thing a spinner does get is bounce, and spinners thrive on bounce. So they do get bounce here. I’m really hoping he can do the job, I reckon he can.”Siddle agreed the task ahead was as daunting as it would be exciting, guiding bowlers as young and unaffected as he was on his debut against India at Mohali in 2008. Since then, Siddle has fought injuries but also refined his body shape, to be the hardiest if not flashiest member of Australia’s pace battery.”A little bit daunting, thinking these blokes are all so young and all haven’t played, so that does make it a little bit daunting, but it does make it exciting as well,” Siddle said. “To get the opportunity to play with some of these guys that obviously can be the future of Australian cricket, to go out there and hopefully lead them and show them some good things.”I’m looking forward to it … it is going to be tough and nervous for them at the start, but I’m looking forward to being a part of it with them, being able to enjoy it with them. Even last week to be involved with Patty [Cummins] and talk to him at mid off or mid on and just see how he goes about it, I’m very excited about these next few weeks.”Given his knack for away swing, Pattinson appears the most likely debutant to share the new ball, a welcome scenario for Siddle having known the younger man since he was “about 10 years old”.”I’ve played with his brother in club cricket for about 11 years now and I’ve known Jimmy since he was about 10, so he’s been like a little brother to me since I’ve moved down to Melbourne,” Siddle said. “I’ve enjoyed the times I’ve got to play with him for Victoria, so hopefully I do get the chance to get out on the park with him and better yet we could open the bowling together in a Test match, that would be quite amazing.”Among the players at Allan Border Field was a ginger-looking Shaun Marsh, who Arthur said was unlikely to be considered before the Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG.