Andy Flower Confident of English batting
After having a bad second day in a warm-up match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Western-Australia-c865, the English batsmen were able to defeat the side by chasing 243 runs in the fourth innings. The English side played as a unit while bringing down Western
Australia.
The top-order batsmen, who failed to impress anyone on the second day, were phenomenal while chasing last. Among them, it was none other than the skipper himself, Andrew Strauss, who led the team from the front by scoring an unbeaten
120 runs.
This is exactly what England needed to kick-off their preparations ahead of the Ashes. The English skipper had all praises for his bowlers and was blunt enough to place the credit of their first warm-up victory on his bowlers.
The hosts, Western Australia were in a solid position on the third day’s start with 109 for 1 on the board, but it was the classy bowling by the English bowlers that ultimately led the match to a conclusive result. The pick among
the bowlers were undoubtedly Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, both took five wickets in the match.
England’s coach Andy Flower looks happy with the winning result from his side, and he is not worried one bit about the poor form of the opener Alastair Cook. Cook, England’s vice-captain was the only one to have failed to score
some decent runs in England’s six-wicket triumph over Western Australia. In both the innings the opener only managed to score five and nine runs.
Coach Andy Flower, nevertheless, does not seem much worried about the lacklustre form of the vice-captain, “I don’t have concerns, its one game, two innings (against West Australia). I think he is going to do well.” It is always
good for a player to have the backing of his coach and Cook seems to be a very lucky man at this moment, because Andy Flower is adamant in keeping his opener, who he believes will deliver when the time comes.
Andy is likely to give Alastair Cook a chance to find his form in all the warm-up matches before the Ashes, which probably seems like a better option for the English team.
England will now face http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844 in their second practice game in Adelaide on 11th November. England did not bring with them a specialist opener as backup, which means that if Alastair Cook fails to find his form
before the first Ashes, then Jonathan Trott who bats at number three will probably replace him as opener. This will most likely give Eoin Morgan a chance to come in the side against the Aussies at the Gabba.
On the other hand, team coach Andy Flower seems unwilling to gamble with the current batting line-up and is willing to give Cook as many chances possible before the big day at the Gabba.
At the moment, Andy Flower is very pleased with his side’s first win in the Australian continent over Western Australia. Flower wants his men to get as much match practice as possible before the real thing begins (Ashes). The England
coach said. “It is very important for us to get that middle time. One of our priorities is not to give everyone a go. We are trying to prepare our Test side for Brisbane and while with a squad of 16 or 17 everyone wants to play, our priority is to ensure that
our Test XI is as ready as possible for the first Test.”
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