Andy Flower

[Amjid Javed]

When talking of best batsmen over last 10-15 years i always wonder why Andy flowers name rarely gets a mention.

When talking about best Batsmen keepers over last 10-15 years or even all time Andy flowers name rarely gets a mention.

To me on both of the catorgorys above he should be mentioned. In both tests and ODIS in had a very good records but he also performed against the very best teams and bowlers he came up against.

A test average of over 50 playing for a team like zimbabwe is something not to be mocked, an excellent player of spin and also a pretty decent player of pacing bowling, in addition a very good gloveman.

from CRICINFO

The elder of two Test-playing brothers, Andy Flower was for a long time Zimbabwe's only batsman of true Test quality in all conditions. For a period of about two years from the start of 2000 he was so phenomenally consistent that he has no rival as the best player in Zimbabwe's history. His wicketkeeping, though, was sometimes less dependable, and probably suffered from the added strain of having to lead the side. He had two stints as captain, leading Zimbabwe to their first Test victory against Pakistan in 1994-95, and then becoming the first Zimbabwean to lead a Test tour of England, in 2000. An assured player of fast bowling since his early days as an opener, Flower matured into one of the best players of spin in the world, and on the Indian tour early in 2001 he made 540 runs for twice out. By then, he had gone from underrated over-achiever to a recognised star, with a spell at No. 1 in the international ratings. Opposing bowlers targeted him accordingly and after a phenomenal Test against South Africa at Harare, when he made 142 and 199 not out, he suffered a rare slump. Off the field, Flower is a keen student of Zimbabwe's history, of which he is now a notable part. He announced his retirement from international cricket after a turbulent 2003 World Cup, which started with an unprecedented protest by Flower, and his equally brave team-mate Henry Olonga, about what they called the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe. Flower played for Essex from 2002 until 2006, and enjoyed a season in South Australia in 2003-04. He was joined at Essex by his brother Grant in 2005, and they became the first brothers to score first-class centuries for the county in the same innings against Lancashire that year. But injury ruled him out of the 2007 season, and when the offer came to become England's assistant coach, he retired and took it.

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So how good was Andy flower?

[DHONI183]

Andy Flower was a brilliant wicket-keeper batsman who averaged around 50 in Tests and 35 in ODIs despite playing for probably the worst team in the world at that time. One of the best in business .

In my book he was better than Adam Gilchrist .

I think that should help .

[muhammad saad]

I would take him over Younis Khan any day.

[Easa]

Originally Posted by muhammad saad I would take him over Younis Khan any day.

:/

talk about random.. and no, I would take Younis Khan over him, even thought this has nothing to do with Younis.

[muhammad saad]

Originally Posted by Easa :/ talk about random.. and no, I would take Younis Khan over him, even thought this has nothing to do with Younis.

Every one has own taste.

[majid786]

he waz a gr8 talent, zimbabwe were really lucky 2 have such a player.

[Mohsin]

HE was the only player who stopped Zimbabwe (time and time again) from being absolutely humiliated! He was the one who bought respectability to their scorecard. Very good batsman and wicket-keeper (one of the best players of spin you are likely to see!)

[punterponting]

Very good batsman, but not a natural keeper. I cringe when people refer to him as a 'wicketkeeper-batsman' because he really was sub-par with the gloves. As a batsman alone, he was wonderful though.

[mv5201]

One of the best players of spin bowling and i belive the first to play the reverse sweep the best

[majid786]

Originally Posted by mv5201 One of the best players of spin bowling and i belive the first to play the reverse sweep the best

one of the greatest players of spin the game has ever witnessed.

[volcyz]

Lets see if he can help England batsmen with their spin woes

[cars112]

One of the more easily forgotten great batsmen.

Absolutely vital player for a Zimbabwean side that, while a lot better than its recent versions, was never up there with the top teams.

Averaged 53 with 12 centuries in 55 Tests as keeper (didn't keep in 8 games). Brilliant player of spin bowling.

Career ended in 2003 after he spoke out against the Zimbabwean authorities (with Henry Olonga).

Overall record:

63 Tests
4794 runs
Average 51.54
12 centuries, 27 fifties

[Mohsin]

Won many game for Zimbabwe single handedly along with Heath Streak. One of the best players of spin ever!

Great play, could probably walk into most test sides around the world!

[Bublu Bhuyan]

I once spoke with Andy Flower and Alistair Cambell over the phone while they were here at my hometown for a match against India.

[Savak]

Man this guy could have been a big time legend. He was a fantastic batter, the way he reverseswept Murali powerfully 3 times in an over was simply breath taking. He was a class act and it is sad that he was forced to retire because of the poor political situation in Zimbabwe. Really Sad.

[Bublu Bhuyan]

Originally Posted by Savak Man this guy could have been a big time legend. He was a fantastic batter, the way he reverseswept Murali powerfully 3 times in an over was simply breath taking. He was a class act and it is sad that he was forced to retire because of the poor political situation in Zimbabwe. Really Sad.

In my eyes he is a legend. It's not about how many matches a player plays, for me it's the way a player plays in the matches he gets to play. Graeme Pollock is regarded as one of the finest batsman ever, yet he played just about 20 Test matches.

Andy Flower's mesmerizing ability to play spin left all the fans across the world in awe. He was and always will be the best player of sweep and reverse sweep in my eyes.

I still remember the last match of his. After the match during the presentation ceremony, Tony Greig spoke to him regarding his retirement. Such nostalgia moments.

[Pak_NM]

Zimbabwe had a pretty decent team back then aswell with Goodwin, Streak, Grant Flower etc but Andy Flower was just different class.

[12thMan]

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...ad.php?t=51523

[bdchamp20]

Another under-rated legend of the game!

[tmac4real]

Him and streak were favorites of the zim team bakc in the 90's. That team was actually half-way decent unlike today's zim team. Zim by this time shoulda been as good as SL atleast, but they have taken a step backwards.

[observer1]

Under-Rated..

Who knows what would happen had he been Australian or English. No doubt up there with Bradman and co.

[deathstreak]

One of the best batsman of our era.
One who would walk into every side in the world just for his ability to play spin.

[Random Aussie]

He was a gun player, more so a batsman than a keeper.

But no he wasn't better than the Gilly