Warne backs Flower to blossom - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Warne backs Flower to blossom

Legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne believes new England team director Andy Flower has "all the qualities" to succeed in the role.

Zimbabwean Flower became Peter Moores' permanent successor on Wednesday when the England and Wales Cricket Board unveiled him at a Lord's press conference.

"England have taken a step in the right direction by appointing Andy Flower, and I think the new job title as team director is the right one," Warne said in his column for The Times.

"At international level, the 'coach' shouldn't be coaching - players don't need to hear about high left elbows and all that rubbish.

"Basically, you want a good communicator who creates an environment where players feel comfortable and can play their own way knowing they will get support.

"Flower is a quality individual who earned the respect of everybody in the game with the way he played and for what he did off the field."

Warne added: "I think he will be a big calming influence in the dressing-room. He is one of those people who will be hard, but very fair. And being quite young, an Essex player until recently, means he is in tune with the modern game. He has all the qualities for the role."

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