Including Grant Flower in World Cup Cricket squad has always been my aim - Alistair Campbell
Zimbabwe cricket is aiming to play its veteran all-rounder Grant Flower in 2011 World Cup with a prospect that his inclusion into the squad would boost the morale of younger batsmen.
The Zimbabwe chief selector Alistair Campbell said that he wants Grant Flower to be part of the squad that would fly to the sub continent earlier next year to play the prestigious ICC flagship event of 2011 World Cup. Campbell said that the presence of one
of the Zimbabwe's most experienced cricketers would immensely benefit the younger players.
39 years old Grant Flower made a shocking return to the international cricket last week more than a gap of six years. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747, was surprisingly included in the squads
for the tour to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 next month.
Despite getting a call from Zimbabwe cricket, Flower has got some concerns about his form and fitness level. The Zimbabwe selector opined that the return of Flower and his inclusion to various series would be gauged on case by case basis.
"The agreement we have is that we'll just play it tour by tour and see where he's at," Campbell told the media reporters.
When asked about Flower’s concerns about his fitness level, Campbell said that the veteran is complaining about some niggles but his tour to South Africa next month is confirmed. The selector further added that including the all-rounder to the next year’s
World Cup squad is his aim.
"He says he's got a few niggling injuries and the like, but he's committed to this tour and for our domestic Twenty20 tournament, and then we'll play it by ear from there. I wouldn't say he's got a couple of years, but I would dearly love him to play up
to and including the World Cup - that's always been my aim."
Flower, who had been coaching English county http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 for the last six years, recently returned home to join the national team as its batting coach. Alongside his role as batting coach with the national side, Flower was also chosen as the player coach of a
domestic franchise of Zimbabwe, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mashonaland-Eagles-c814.
Flowers return to the national team as a player was triggered by his astounding performance in the one-day leg of the 2010 county season, Clydesdale Bank 40 Competition, in which he compiled a tally of 527 runs at a remarkable batting average of 65.87.
39 years old Flower feels that the dual responsibilities, of batting coach and player, would complicate his position in the side and might lead to a conflict of interests as his performance as player might affect his coaching role.
"There can be a conflict of interests with my role as the batting coach, if I can't turn things around as a player," Flower said. "It can be awkward if I don't. If it works, however, it can come out in positive fashion."
The chairman of the selection committee opined that Flower’s experience of playing with the younger batsmen of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 would help him in his coaching role. "I think it will be a really good start for his coaching career if he can be at the front line with
some of those youngsters and get to know how they react under pressure,” said the Chief selector.
Alistair http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Campbell-c49176 said that performing a player-coach role is not easy; however, he said that Flower is just a batting coach of the side and not the head coach, so it would not be as such complicated. Fielding is the most serious concern of present day Zimbabwe
team, and Campbell believes that Flower’s presence in the squad would also help the side in the fielding department.
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