We will have to reset our goals: Flower
First Published : 16 Aug 2011, 23:26
Last Modified : 18 Aug 2011, 17:56
London, Aug 16: The man who guided England to the top-spot in the ICC Test cricket rankings, Andrew Flower lauded the other Andrew, England skipper Andrew Strauss, for the role of his leadership in England’s rise.
Referring to the skipper as a “special man”, the England coach told the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) website, “[England have] got an outstanding leader in Strauss.”
However, Flower guards against trying to hold on to the No. 1 position. "I always think it is very dangerous to try to hold on to what you have got," he was quoted as saying. "We used that goal – to be No. 1 – as a motivational tool … that drove us in training and in matches. Now that we have achieved that, what Strauss and I don't want to do is hang on to No. 1 status. That's not a very exciting way to go about our business. We are going to have to reset our goals.”
“[England have] always had a goal of constant improvement, and that doesn’t change just because your ranking points change,” the 43-year-old former Zimbabwe cricketer pointed out.
"This winter we go to play against two countries […]; the last time England toured those countries, we lost. We want to go and play Pakistan and Sri Lanka away from home and win those series. Ignoring the ranking, those series will have their own importance,” he observed.
The former wicketkeeper-batsman added, "We've also got the World Test Championship for the first time in 2013 and that's in our own country. That is certainly something we are striving for – we have to be in the top four to get into the semi finals of it and we are going to be working hard between now and then to ensure we are a strong unit ready for that semi-final."
