Andy and Grant - A bouquet of Flowers - Opinion
If Zimbabwe’s limited success over the years that they had played international cricket could be attributed to two players, then that duo would have to be the Flower brothers. It was a common custom back in those days and even in contemporary times to have
two brothers play in the same team. Just how good was the combination going to be was something that many observers were oblivious to. Perhaps, The Waugh brothers of the late 1990s were the most diabolical combination to represent any team. Yet it can be
safely said that the Flower brothers were not too far behind in terms of coming up with some breathtaking performances. Given the state of affairs that their country and cricket team were grappling with, their achievements seem to be more significant.
Zimbabwe’s state of plummeting to ground zero after politics and cricket became intertwined was a sad state of affairs for a side that has always had tremendous potential. Yet despite these difficulties, both Andy Flower and Grant Flower were instrumental
in putting Zimbabwe on the map. They acted as a unifying force in a team with significant differences and had won them many games single handedly. Andy Flower, who is currently the coach of the English Cricket Team, was probably the finest wicket keeper batsman
in the history of the game after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
With an average of almost 52 in Test cricket, in as many as 63 Test matches, Flower revolutionized the concept of reverse sweeping and battering the fast bowlers with impunity. His 232 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 at Nagpur in 2000 was probably one of the finest innings
played on subcontinent shores. His innings have come in times when his side would occasionally witness a batting collapse at the top of the order. What greeted the blood thirsty opposition was a flurry of flashy wrists and snappy wicket keeping. These attributes
helped http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362 gain a reputation for being a lion hearted player, who seldom flustered when adversity struck him. It is thus, not surprising that his calm aura has rubbed off on the English dressing room.
His brother was a mighty fine player as well. Grant Flower was probably the best batsman that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 produced in terms of technique and resilience. His left arm spin was often deployed with guile and zip, which came through a whirling action. His on-field
skills were quite amazing and made him one of the most successful all rounders to represent his country. Grant almost had a natural proclivity for saving his side from outlandish pressure.
When both these players were on the field or were performing, Zimbabwe looked like a completely different outfit. They were capable of destroying any opposition on their day and at the same time would look less than ordinary, if one of the two Flowers were
not blossoming for whatever reason.
It was eventually an untoward end for what looked like a promising send off for these two magnificent cricketers. Flower is already etched into the mind as a legend according to many and Grant was praised for his determined approach towards the game. The
irony for Zimbabwe is that both these players are not within the sphere of their country’s domestic set up any more. Andy has ended up as one of the most successful coaches for England of all time, whereas Grant has been playing county cricket in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013.
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