All posts by csb10.top

Not only has Australia’s dreadful batting cost the team a 2-0 deficit after as many Investec Ashes Tests, it has now claimed a human casualty in the form of the young fast bowler James Pattinson. Fighting back tears the morning after he was diagnosed with a back stress fracture that has ended his tour, Pattinson admitted that a lack of rest between bowling innings at Lord’s had contributed to his injury.It had been thought that the older and injury-prone Ryan Harris would be most susceptible to physical breakdown after little more than three hours separated England’s first and second innings at Lord’s, but it was Pattinson who suffered most. He felt stiffness on the second day and grew increasingly worried as it worsened across the match. His dismissal by Graeme Swann on the fourth evening after an innings of admirably stubborn refusal to yield will be Pattinson’s last memory of the series.”When you go out doing what you do it’s hard on the body and in an ideal world you’d like a bit more rest than that. It’s far from ideal,” Pattinson said. “You go out there and put your body on the line and you’re playing for your country … once I get a bit more mature, I’ve said it a thousand times before, but I’m still hoping one day my body is going to mature and I’ll be able to do that back-up not just for two Tests but five.”It could have been worse, but it’s pretty shattering something you’ve worked so hard for is taken away. It’s a hard road … it’s not as bad as what it was before in the past when I’ve had six to twelve months out of the game, which is pretty hard and a few lonely days in the MCG gym getting back towards playing. So I’ll go through that again but I’m in a positive frame of mind that one day it’ll get better and hopefully it does, so fingers crossed.”In the conversations Pattinson had on Monday night after learning of the extent of his ailment, the name of England’s spearhead James Anderson was raised as a source of hope. Having endured his own nightmarish run of injuries as a younger man, Anderson has matured into a bowler as durable as he is skilful, illustrated by his ability to bowl a 13-over spell to help England to victory in Nottingham before backing up at Lord’s.”That has been thrown up overnight, in conversations about Jimmy Anderson, whose career started with a lot of injuries,” Pattinson said. “There are a dozen other bowlers in the same position. You live in hope that one day it will go away. I am only 23. I am pretty happy with what I have achieved in the game so far but I would like to have fewer setbacks. I am a pretty strong person and I think I can bounce back strong and come back bigger better and stronger than I did last time.”As for his own approach to bowling, which so far has erred on the side of full throttle just about every ball of his life, Pattinson said as he matured he would learn how better to move up and down through the gears, much as Anderson and Dale Steyn have done.”In games you can sum up when it is swinging. It is not in my personal makeup to go out and not give 100 percent. I like bowling fast,” Pattinson said. “Dale Steyn sometimes bowls within himself and picks the right time to go hard. I am not at that stage yet. I have to go 100 percent to make sure I am in the team and performing for my country. When I get older there will be times I can do that.”At training I go pretty hard too. I can look at that. Personally, the only way is to give everything you got. I am very proud of representing Australia and it is something I love doing. It is disappointing to work your arse off and have it taken away.”

WI squad for the tri-series’ Jamaica games

Dwayne Bravo (capt), Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Devon Smith, Darren Sammy, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Sunil Narine, Tino Best, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach
Out: Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jason Holder

Batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has been dropped from the West Indies squad for the first half of the tri-series involving India and Sri Lanka, which begins on June 28. Fast bowler Jason Holder was also left out of the 13-man squad that was named, on Saturday, for the Jamaica leg of the tournament. There were no other changes made to the squad that played the Champions Trophy in England.Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who was suspended for two ODIs for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct when he claimed a catch off Misbah-ul-Haq during the Champions Trophy game against Pakistan, will be available to play.Sarwan had been recalled to the West Indies team after a contentious 18 months away from the game – during which he claimed to have been hurt “mentally and emotionally” by national team’s coaching regime – for the limited-overs tour of Australia earlier this year. Since then, apart from a century against Zimbabwe at home, he totalled 40 runs in seven matches. In the Champions Trophy, he scored 1 against Pakistan and 1 against India.West Indies failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy’s semi-finals. They were off to a good start in the tournament, beating Pakistan in a low-scoring thriller, but were then beaten by India and tied a rain-hit must-win game against South Africa, as a result of which South Africa progressed to the knockouts on net run rate.The teams play two games each in Jamaica in the tri-series, with West Indies scheduled to take on Sri Lanka at Sabina Park in the tournament opener on June 28, before playing India on June 30. The tournament then shifts to Port of Spain.

ScorecardIan Cockbain’s aggressive innings proved to be the match-defining contribution•Getty Images

Half-centuries from Benny Howell, Michael Klinger and Ian Cockbain guided Gloucestershire to a 29-run victory against Unicorns in a Yorkshire Bank 40 Group C game in Bristol.Gloucestershire skipper Klinger held the top order together with 61 before Howell, with an unbeaten 75, and Cockbain, with 53, were chiefly responsible for the late assault which brought 112 runs from the final 10 overs in a total of 260 for 7.Former Surrey youngster Tom Lancefield, who has played for Gloucestershire’s second XI this season, led a spirited run chase by Unicorns with 76 from 93 balls.But the visitors eventually finished on 231 for 5 as Gloucestershire secured a third win to maintain their strong challenge in Group C.Gloucestershire were made to work much harder for victory than they were in a nine-wicket success against Unicorns at Wormsley earlier in the month.After Klinger won the toss, Gloucestershire were reduced to 75 for three in the 16th over after Hamish Marshall was caught behind off Glenn Querl, Chris Dent was run out by Aneurin Norman’s throw from backward point and Alex Gidman edged to wicketkeeper Tom New off Norman.A stand of 73 in 14 overs between Klinger and Howell revived the innings, but the Gloucestershire captain was then run out by Luke Beaven’s direct hit from backward square leg.Unicorns must have been pleased with their bowling and fielding display up to that point, but Cockbain’s arrival in the middle changed the tempo dramatically.He took two fours and a straight six off the 35th over, bowled by Querl, and brought up his 29-ball half-century with the second of two successive sixes over long-on from Warren Lee’s bowling in the 37th over. However, Lee gained revenge from the next delivery when Cockbain skied a pull into the gloves of wicketkeeper New.The late boundary barrage continued unabated as Howell and James Fuller thrashed 42 from 18 balls before the latter was bowled swinging across the line at Beavon’s left-arm spin.Gareth Roderick was run out off the last ball of the innings, which left Howell undefeated on 75 from 69 balls, having struck four fours and three sixes.The Unicorns’ run chase was given a great start by Lancefield and New, who put on 118 in 22 overs in largely untroubled fashion. Former Leicestershire player New had contributed 35 when he clipped Howell to midwicket, where Alex Gidman dived forward to take the catch.Gloucestershire seized control after that, thanks to tight bowling from Howell and Gidman and some sharp fielding.Michael O’Shea was caught at deep mid-on by Fuller off Gidman, then Lancefield’s fine innings came to an end when he was run out by Chris Dent’s throw from cover. The former Surrey youngster had hit six fours and two sixes in his 93-ball innings.Garry Park and Scott Elstone put on 43 for the fourth wicket before the latter was bowled by Fuller for 17. And, despite some defiant blows from Park, who made 47 before being caught on the midwicket boundary off Fuller in the last over, Gloucestershire ran out comfortable winners.

The retired Test batsman Michael Hussey has not yet decided if he will play on for Western Australia next summer. Hussey was not part of the list of contracted players the Warriors announced on Wednesday for the 2013-14 season due to the uncertainty over his future but the coach Justin Langer said the state would give Hussey as much time as he needed to decide on whether to play on.”It’s been a real whirlwind for Mike since he decided to retire from international cricket and he’s basically had no time to reflect on where he’s come from and what he wants to do in the future,” Langer said. “Because of the rules and regulations we’ve had to put our squad together now but certainly we’ll be giving Mike Hussey every bit of time he requires to make a decision on whether he wants to keep playing for the Warriors and the Scorchers.”The fast bowler Michael Hogan and the batsman Travis Birt have gone from last year’s list after retiring from Australian domestic cricket, while the batsman Tom Beaton was also dropped and Matt Dixon was demoted from a full contract to the rookie list. The wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Whiteman has been upgraded from his rookie deal while Hilton Cartwright, Burt Cockley and John Rogers have gained full contracts.”There haven’t been too many additions. We’re looking to encourage the philosophy that we’ll reward performance not just talent and reputation,” Langer said. “The guys who’ve been upgraded, Whiteman, Rogers, Cartwright and Cockley, deserve it based on their performances last year. That’s the philosophy we’re trying to develop.”Western Australia Ashton Agar, Michael Beer, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Burt Cockley, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Davis, Ryan Duffield, Marcus Harris, Mitchell Johnson (Cricket Australia contract), Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Nathan Rimmington, John Rogers, Tom Triffitt, Adam Voges, Sam Whiteman. Rookies Cameron Bancroft, William Bosisto, Matt Dixon, Simon Mackin, Joel Paris, Ashton Turner.

ScorecardShiv Thakor added another half-century to his early season tally•Getty Images

Leicestershire followed the logical course by batting through much of the final day as their Division Two basement battle with Worcestershire in the drifted to a draw.Having lost three wickets in picking up two more bonus points before lunch,they kept Worcestershire in the field until tea, with Shiv Thakor making an unbeaten 52 prior to a declaration at 379 for 8. In 20 overs before the captains shook hands at 4.50pm, the home side made 61 for 1, nudging into a lead of two runs after Jigar Naik had dismissed Matt Pardoe for his sixth wicket in the game.It was certainly not a match to enjoy for the handful of spectators who stuck it out to the end in cool, blustery conditions. The equivalent of a day’s play was lost because of rain and the scoring rate was pegged at below three an over on a sluggish pitch.Apart from a brief burst with the new ball, in which Jack Shantry removed the overnight century-maker Ned Eckersley, Worcestershire mostly relied on their spinners, Shaaiq Choudhry and Moeen Ali, who shared six wickets in bowling 82 overs between them.When Leicestershire resumed at 229 for 2, Eckersley added only 14 before he was out for 122. Surprised by a ball from Shantry, which appeared to stop on him, he jabbed a simple catch to Gareth Andrew at midwicket. Eckersley’s partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan produced 139 and in Shantry’s next over, a low drive by Josh Cobb gave Andrew a more difficult catch.Shantry’s spell of 2 for 20 in eight overs was largely responsible for a slow start by Leicestershire, but Sarwan injected some urgency by cutting and diving for four and six off successive balls from Choudhry. In his haste to lift the tempo, the West Indies batsman fell for 79 when he skied Moeen towards long-on where Neil Pinner ran in from the boundary to take a well-judged catch.Leicestershire nearly ground to a halt as they approached 300 but Matt Boyce secured the extra batting point by taking 10 runs off three balls from Choudhry in the 110th over.Choudhry had his revenge when bowling Boyce behind his legs for 29 and theleft-arm spinner went on to remove Rob Taylor and Naik for a full return of 4 for 111. Thakor, however, was not for shifting and the teenager hit four fours and a six in adding another half-century to previous scores of 114 against Kent and 75 against Gloucestershire.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSinhalese Sports Club has triumphed in the Premier League Tournament final, defeating Moors Sports Club by six wickets in the four-day match at SSC. League top-scorer Kaushal Silva starred again, hitting 171 in the first innings to help SSC to a 62-run lead, before making a rapid 88 from 105 in the second innings, as SSC chased down the 262 runs they required, with only 4.3 overs still remaining in the game.The hosts arrived on the final day still needing three wickets to end Moors’ impressive third innings, and already 248 to get on the final day, in order to secure the trophy. Moors’ resistance lasted only four overs on the fourth morning however – just long enough for Indika de Saram to complete his 28th first-class hundred, having ended the previous day at 89 not out. He made 12 of Moors’ 13 runs to finish with 101, as the SSC fast bowlers made short work of the tailenders around him.SSC then had 83 overs in which to secure victory, and they began with a positive half-century to Dimuth Karunaratne, who made 73 from 98. His opening partner Tharanga Paranavitana had taken 101 balls to make 32, but Silva’s swift progress ensured the hosts did not fall behind the virtual asking rate. Perera hit nine fours and a six in his 88, but perished to the left-arm spin of Malinda Pushpakumara, five overs before the winning runs were hit by captain Thilina Kandamby, who had made 340 not out in the previous match to secure SSC’s place in the final.Moors had opted to bat on the first morning, but despite an opening partnership worth 108, could not bat themselves into a strong position, succumbing instead for 262 in the evening. Shehan Jayasuriya’s 68 from 66, during which he hit 10 fours and a six, provided a good foundation, but Moor’s middle order fell in a heap, and could not capitalise. From 108 for none, Moors stumbled to 147 for 4, largely thanks to left-arm seam bowler Charith Jayampathi, who dismissed both openers and effected a run out. Moors then launched recoveries through Janaka Gunaratne, then Chaturanga de Silva, who made 51, but both batsmen continued to lose partners at the other end and could not make a substantial-enough score themselves. Gunathilaka’s offspin brought him 4 for 54, for SSC.SSC began their reply poorly, and having reduced them to 59 for 4, Moors might were headed for a substantial first-innings lead despite their own sub-par score. But a stellar hand from Silva in a season full of them, not only rescued his side, but put them into a commanding position. He first featured in a 73-run partnership with Kandamby, before Moors struck four times quickly to have SSC eight down for 168. Silva’s 102-run ninth-wicket partnership with Dhammika Prasad, however, took his side beyond their opponents’ score, before his 54-run partnership with last-man Kasun Madushanka, took SSC well beyond 300. Madushanka made five of those runs.Jayasuriya launched a quick start for Moors again, but could only make 35 from 31 this time, and his demise, with Moors still behind, brought two more quick scalps for the opposition. De Saram held firm on one end, but regular wickets fell at the other, and Moors were quickly in a desperate position, at 142 for 6. Captain Dilhara Lokuhettige, batting at No. 8, finally provided de Saram the support that he needed however, and Lokuhettige contributed 78 to the 167-run partnership that hauled Moors out of a mire. But his departure near the close of day three, exposed the tail, and his side would eventually finish runners-up after the drama of the final day.

ScorecardThe victorious Delhi team with the Vijay Hazare Trophy•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Unmukt Chand continued his habit of scoring hundreds in a final with a 116 against Assam in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Visakhapatnam. After scoring 290 for 9, Delhi’s bowling and fielding ensured they won the final by 75 runs as they dismissed Assam for 215 within 45 overs.Once Assam chose to field, Chand and Puneet Bisht provided Delhi a steady start, putting on 97 for the first wicket. Bisht scored a brisk 64-ball 52 but was dismissed in the 21st over. Gautam Gambhir was soon sent back to the pavilion 10 runs later when he was caught by AK Das off Syed Mohammad for 5.Chand and Jagrit Anand steadied the ship again, putting together 115 in 100 balls for the third wicket. When Anand got out for 48, Delhi were 222 for 3 in 40.1 overs and were set for a big score but Assam, led by Pritam Das, ensured they were kept to 290 as they took the next seven wickets for 55 runs. Chand scored his maiden List A hundred which included eight fours and three sixes. Milind Kumar’s unbeaten cameo of 31 from 22 balls meant that Delhi’s lower order didn’t collapse completely and they set up a competitive score.In reply, Assam lost opener Pritam Debnath to a run-out in the third over, and four overs later, Sibsankar Roy was dismissed by Parvinder Awana for 10. Pallavkumar Das and Dheeraj Jadhav put on 30 runs in the next eight overs but Pallavkumar was also run-out, for 31, in the 15th over. Varun Sood capitalised on the opportunity and dismissed the new batsman Tarjinder Singh, leaving Assam at 72 for 4. Before Gokul Sharma and Jadhav could consolidate the innings, Sood struck again, getting Gokul caught for 11.Assam only managed to build small partnerships throughout the match which wasn’t enough to chase a target of 291. Jadhav held one end but his knock of 87 from 114 could not take them close to victory. Rajat Bhatia picked up three wickets from there, including Jadhav’s, and finished with figures of 3 for 36 from his seven overs which sealed the victory for Delhi. Sood finished with 2 for 46 in 10 overs.

Deemed surplus to Australia’s limited overs plans this summer by the national selectors, Michael Hussey will instead work at a quartet of matches as a television commentator.Having revealed his decision to retire from the international game on Channel Nine following the Boxing Day Test, Hussey has been signed by the network to commentate on four matches, the two Twenty20s against Sri Lanka and the final two ODIs of the series against the West Indies.Hussey’s first appearance at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on Australia Day will be juggled with his on-field duties as captain of Western Australia, who will be engaged in a Sheffield Shield fixture against New South Wales in Blacktown from Thursday.Following his retirement announcement Hussey had said he would like to “try a few things” now that he was no longer tied to the relentless schedule of an international cricketer, and though he is set to continue to play for the Warriors, the Perth Scorchers and Chennai in the IPL, he will now have more time for pursuits such as television.While initially Hussey had hoped to farewell Australian cricket via the ODIs and T20s against Sri Lanka and the West Indies, he was informed during the Sydney Test that the national selector John Inverarity and his panel had decided not to choose him for the matches, preferring to try players who would be available for the longer term.”I’m disappointed not to be playing in the one-dayers because that was my plan,” Hussey said after his axing. “I love one-day cricket. That’s where I got my opportunity to play for Australia, so I definitely wanted to play.”But I understand what the selectors are trying to do. They’re trying to build for the 2015 World Cup and I’ll get over it I guess.”The decision to remove Hussey from the squad while also resting Michael Clarke, David Warner and Matthew Wade was considered so sensitive by Cricket Australia that the team performance manager Pat Howard briefed Nine’s director of sport Steve Crawley and members of the commentary team about the squad for the Sri Lanka series the day before it was announced.

No-one made more runs before being handed a baggy green cap than Michael Hussey, and it is highly likely that no-one ever will have to again. In addition to leaving an enormous hole in Australia’s batting order, Hussey’s exit from the game at 37 also poses a major question about the development of players capable of filling it.Was Hussey robbed of an even more illustrious career by a selection panel that scorned his talents until he was 30, or was the wonderfully dextrous and adaptable player he became a direct result of all those years spent honing his game for the opportunity? As he looked forward to more time at home, though he will continue to play for Western Australia and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Hussey said he wished he had been given an earlier chance, but reasoned that the completeness of his game and the maturity of his approach stemmed from the extra time he was left to shape it.”I would’ve loved to get an opportunity earlier, there’s no question about that,” Hussey said. “I would’ve maybe liked to go through what young players go through at international level where you come in, you’re so excited to be there, probably go through some hard times and then come out the other side a batter player.”But in a lot of ways it probably did help me to be able to perform consistently at international level, to have so much first-class cricket behind me. To learn about the game and learn about batting and learn about myself as a person, I think held me in very good stead when I came to the international game when there’s so many distractions externally, to be able to put them aside and concentration my game. Knowing what worked for me helped me definitely.”With Hussey soon to be gone from the team, Australia’s selectors are left to pick from the meagre batting options they have left. Usman Khawaja is part of the current squad and has worked at rounding out his game in the manner of Hussey, while the Twenty20 captain George Bailey has a fighter’s instinct and a leader’s brain and attitude, if not quite the record of batting achievement that suggests he will make as instant an impression at 30 as Hussey did after he debuted in 2005.

Hussey’s most cherished moments

“The 2007 World Cup was just an amazing experience – the way the team played throughout that tournament was just incredible cricket,. So to be a part of that was absolutely fantastic and a huge highlight for me. Being part of an Ashes series where we won 5-0 here in Australia and to play with some of the true legends and greats of the game I’m really thrilled to play with these guys and to play in such a fantastic Ashes series like that. They’re the two that standout most to me over my career.
“From a personal point of view my favourite moment would be hitting the winning runs in the second Test in Adelaide in that Ashes series [in 2006]. I’m not sure how many I made that day, but that feeling I got, to win that amazing Test match and to be out there to hit the winning runs, was a fantastic honour.”

Hussey himself believes his 35-year-old brother David deserves a chance, while Chris Rogers is of the same age and the possessor of endless first-class experience in England. Other young batsmen like Joe Burns in Queensland, Kurtis Patterson in New South Wales, Alex Doolan in Tasmania and Peter Handscomb in Victoria will in time press their claims, but their readiness for international cricket and all its myriad challenges will depend on how – and for how long – they are groomed.A major reason for Hussey’s exit is that he is no longer prepared to separate himself from his family for the long tracts of time required by international tours, but another is the wearing down effect of Test match pressure, be it from opponents, media, supporters, team-mates and the man himself. The support Hussey has been given from the likes of his first-grade batting coach Ian Keevan, the former Northants coach Bob Carter, and his wife Amy allowed him to push through much of it, and those relationships were also built up over the years he spent waiting for his chance.”There’s so much pressure, stress and tension around international cricket, on all the guys,” Hussey said. “I’m amazed how the guys handle it at times. But I think it’s very important to have a good support network around you, people who keep believing in you all the time, and keep you in a positive frame of mind when sometimes it’s quite easy to get yourself down and put more pressure on yourself. I’m very lucky to have that network around me that’ve remained really positive and confident and believed in me.”It’s a little bit sad and I will miss certain parts of it. But there’s so much more to life than just playing cricket, and I have those fantastic memories, but there’s going to be a lot of things I certainly won’t miss, like the really sick feeling in the stomach when you have to go out and bat in a Test match, the constant time away from home, training, travel, hotels and airports. It does wear you down after a while.”It’s taken me a long time to learn how I play my best cricket. It’s going to be different for everyone, but for me personally when I do relax, when I do enjoy the game I just stick to my very good preparation, and I just know and believe I will perform.”Hussey’s final summer has been played without the self-imposed expectations he had previously lived with, for he knew that retirement at the end of the season was always his most likely path. That allowed him to relax and play his best, just as he did not gain a start for Australia until after he had virtually given up hope of earning one.”I do feel like the pressure’s been off a little bit,” he said. “I was very keen to do well in this particular summer. Like every summer I guess. But I felt like I could go out there with nothing to lose a little bit because I knew in my own mind that it was probably going to come to an end at the end of the Australian summer.”So I could play with a bit more freedom and just go out there and relax. Maybe there is a lesson in there to be learnt – I have always been someone that has put a lot of pressure on myself and tried sometimes too hard and when you just relax and play and enjoy the game, that’s when I’ve played my best cricket.”There is a lesson in that for all those who will follow Hussey into Australia’s Test team, one of many that can be learned from observing the career and achievements of a cricketer who tried to – and usually did – do everything right.

Andy Flower, who has relinquished his day-to-day involvement with England’s one-day side, has admitted that he found the conflicting demands of his coaching role “unsustainable” as he agonised over his need to contribute to a family life with his wife and three young children.Flower, according to an estimate from England’s managing director of cricket, Hugh Morris, has spent around 60% of his life away from home over the last few years – with no prospect that if he had maintained both roles the burden would ease for at least the next eight years.Flower, the England coach since early 2008, will remain as England’s team director with responsibility for the playing strategies and preparation of the team in all formats of the game. He remains in direct charge of the Test side but will relinquish the day-to-day management of the limited-overs teams to Ashley Giles, who will step down as Warwickshire’s director of cricket.ESPNcricinfo revealed that the ECB were exploring options to ease Flower’s workload and that the ODI series against India in January was a potential series where Flower could be rested, with Giles in the running for the job. This appointment confirms that intention, with Flower’s next engagement the Tests leg of England’s New Zealand tour in March.”We are all aware over the last five-and-a-half years since Andy’s been involved that we’ve enjoyed some fantastic successes,” Morris said. “Over that period Andy has missed a handful of days. We all know how busy the schedule is. Andy is 44 and has three young kids and spends a hell of a lot of time away from home.”We also know over the next eight-year period we will have a similar volume of cricket. We need a step change in order to protect our greatest assets which are our players and our team director and senior management. We aim to retain our talent over a long period of time.”We have played as much as India, ahead of Australia and pretty much all the other full member nations. Andy has had the busiest workload, including 15 overseas tours. Sixty per cent of his life has been in a hotel room. It is not sustainable for one person to be looking after all aspects of the game.”Flower agreed that the demands of England’s touring schedule were not conducive to family life. Indeed, he suggested involvement in all three formats of the game might only be sustainable for single men or those with grown-up families.”With young families it is very hard to get that work-life balance right,” Flower said. “If you were single or had a grown up family then I think it would be more possible to do all three forms of the game.”We have talked about what the most effective coaching structure for our national side is and we’re still not sure. But we believe that this might be a more efficient use of our resources. With unlimited resources and unlimited high-quality coaching staff, you might even have two separate coaching teams.”There is a bit of unfinished business. But I hope to see Ashley Giles and Alastair Cook hoisting a trophy above their heads at some stage. I will be watching but not there on a day to day level. It is a little sad to be stepping away to be honest. But I will certainly gain in other areas of my life. I don’t believe this decision will bring an erosion of my authority or influence.”Both Flower and Morris dismissed the suggestion that the appointment of a second senior coach would create confusion or undermine Flower’s position. Morris insisted that, such was their confidence in Giles as a man and a coach, there had been no need to consider any other candidates.”I don’t see it as an erosion of Andy’s power,” Morris said. “Ultimately he is accountable for playing strategy of all three formats of the game. He remains a selector and also has responsibility for the day to day planning. He will also see some young players he wouldn’t have seen before in the county scene.”We know Ashley Giles as a person and we know him as a coach. He has been through our coaching programme over the last four years and he has done a terrific job with Warwickshire.”Flower dismissed the suggestion that he was benefitting from just the sort of rest period denied to Kevin Pietersen. The difference, Flower contended , was that Pietersen had requested that he was omitted from the ODI squad while continuing in the T20 team, while the policy of the ECB remained that players were available either for all limited-overs cricket or none of it.”He wanted to retire from 50 overs cricket and play T20 cricket,” Flower said. “That is not in line with ECB policy. So the situations are not directly comparable.”