The Telegraph – Calcutta
http://www.telegraphindia.com/
By Lokendra Pratap Sahi
27 February 2011
Bangalore: England’s head coach (or Team Director) Andy Flower, a former captain of Zimbabwe, spoke to The Telegraph for almost an hour at the Royal Gardenia on Saturday.
The Q&A specific to the India-England match was published on Sunday. Excerpts from the rest of the one-on-one:
Q You’ve quickly moved on from being an outstanding batsman to a hugely respected head coach…
A (Smiles) Making the transformation has been very interesting… I’ve learnt a lot about myself, a lot about coaching… All in a short span of time… I guess Gary Kirsten feels the same way.
The journey has been smooth, isn’t it?
I’ve been very lucky in the way things have panned out… This is an exciting part of my career.
What made you get into coaching in a big way?
I’ve actually been involved with coaching for a long time and, when Zimbabwe got Test status (1992), the Union paid me more as a coach than as a player… Basically, I and three others (Dave Houghton, Alistair Campbell and brother Grant) were employed as coaches, but also played… Later, I went to England and coached Oxford University and did some coaching in Holland as well, before getting associated with the England team.
Have you regarded any coach as a role model?
Not as a role model, but I’ve definitely been influenced by people… I’ve had strong influences… If you pay attention to what others are doing, then you can learn the good things as also learn from the mistakes… There are good coaches and bad and you’ve got to pick out what works and what doesn’t. I’ve been a learner and I realise that I can make as many mistakes as the next person. However, I learn from my mistakes and from the mistakes of others, so that they don’t get repeated.
Graham Gooch, whom you’ve brought on board as batting coach, has been a big influence…
Indeed, yes… Also Peter Moores, my predecessor… Moores taught me just how much planning goes into coaching… I saw the way he managed a group, the way he went about his job as England’s head coach. I’m grateful to Moores… On the technical side, I’ve learnt a lot from Gooch and Houghton… In a different way, some of Zimbabwe’s older cricketers, like John Traicos, left a big impression… The way they managed doing a job, playing and finding time for family. They were more diligent and determined than some of the professional cricketers I’ve come across.
As the head coach, is your plate full?
The clearest role that I have is to prepare the team… That done, Andrew Strauss takes it on the field… To help with the preparations, I have specialist coaches, like Gooch and David Saker (the fast bowling coach)… I look into the sports science part as well, so I have a multi-dimensional role.
But Gooch isn’t with you all the time…
He spends chunks of time with us, quite like (former ’keeper) Bruce French… I think it’s nice for players to have their own time, instead of regularly having to work with the specialist coaches. We try to get the balance right.
What about the man management bit?
It’s there… It’s impossible to have a friendly, perfect relationship with everyone, but a healthy relationship has to be there… Players are called upon to do special things under pressure and, so, they need to have a healthy relationship with those who’re there to guide them. It has to be a two-way traffic.
Is Mushtaq Ahmed’s role confined to being the spin bowling coach?
No… Mushy does more than that. He has a larger role and works with the batsmen too… His knowledge of cricket and of people comes together to work very well for us.
Moores and Kevin Pietersen didn’t get along with each other, but it’s different between you and Strauss…
Strauss and I have worked well together… We were thrown together rather fortuitously because of that (Pietersen-Moores) situation… It was a sad situation to develop… That’s in the past now… There’s mutual respect in my relationship with Strauss, who is a good cricketer and a man of strong principles, besides being a very good leader.
The roles are clearly defined?
Yes… On the field, Strauss is the boss, off it, we share responsibilities… Grey areas are there, but we find answers and get to a solution. (Adds laughing) We’re both fairly reasonable people, though I must say Strauss is quite stubborn.
What’s special about Strauss as captain?
He’s a fair and good man and, therefore, he’s respected by his players… He doesn’t shirk hard work… In fact, he embraces it and insists on that from his players… Equally, he keeps a good perspective… He knows what’s happening around the world, is well-read… It’s not that he lives in a little cocoon of cricket… The good perspective allows him to make good decisions. He’s in a better position to do so and that’s something which makes him a good leader.
Did you set yourself a goal when you took over as head coach?
My priority, initially, was to have a good relationship with Strauss and with the rest of the team… Depending on who we’re talking about, those relationships vary… Later, becoming No.1 has been the priority… Everything we do in our professional lives is, clearly, driven by that goal.
You come across as rather quiet, happy to be in the background, like Kirsten. How is it in the dressing room?
There are times when a leader, be it the captain or coach, has to draw the line and people have to understand that they can’t step over it… You don’t have to rave and rant and you don’t have to read the Riot Act… One deals with adults and, usually, there’s a better way of doing things… But, yes, there can be times and places when that might be appropriate.
What gave more satisfaction — winning the Ashes in 2009, pocketing the World T20 last year or retaining the Ashes this season?
All… I wouldn’t like to pick and choose… It’s hard to compare… However, because of the emphatic manner (all three wins by an innings), I suppose retaining the Ashes, in Australia, would rank a notch higher… I’m very proud of the team for everything we’ve achieved.
England’s rise must be putting you too under pressure to keep delivering?
There’s always the pressure of expectations, for the simple reason that we’re one of the bigger Test-playing nations… Quite rightly, we’re expected to perform on the world stage… I embrace this pressure and I’d like the players to do the same… We talk of pressure in a sporting context, but we’ve got to remember that people face pressure in many other aspects of life… They face a lot of pressure. The pressure sportsmen face should, therefore, be put in context.
How do you unwind at the end of a day of high pressure?
I like spending time with somebody from the team, perhaps a member of the coaching staff… Could be over a meal, or just coffee or beer.
Pleased that Zimbabwe will soon be back playing Test cricket?
I’m not sure of the details, so I wouldn’t like to comment, but I’ll definitely say that people like David Coltart, the sports minister, are making a tremendous effort and putting in the energy to regenerate the sport… Coltart is keeping an eye on what’s happening in cricket… Some of the cricket brains, so to say, are getting back into the sport in Zimbabwe. Combined with the natural talent of some of the youngsters, that bodes well for Zimbabwe.
Grant has gone back…
He enjoys the lifestyle in Zimbabwe and it’s great that he’s the batting coach. He had a wonderful time at Essex and learnt a lot.
The last one… Your thoughts on Kirsten?
(Smiles) I respect him tremendously… Had a lot of respect for him as a player and have a lot of respect for him as a person and as a coach… He’s an outstanding guy and I hope I haven’t embarrassed him by saying that. He’s simple in such a nice way and goes about his job quietly and with dignity… I’m aware that the India players respect him, it’s well-deserved.