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Full name Andrew Flower
Born April 28, 1968, Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Current age 40 years 124 days
Major teams Zimbabwe, Essex, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mashonaland, South Australia
Nickname Petals
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Other Coach
Height 5 ft 10 in
Education Vainona High School
Relations Brother - GW Flower

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

Runs

Ave

100

Tests

112

4794

232*

51.54

10636

45.07

543

151

ODIs

213

208

6786

145

35.34

9097

74.59

141

First-class

223

372

16379

271*

54.05

361

List A

380

366

12511

145

38.97

254

Twenty20

595

33.05

481

123.70

Bowling averages

Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

Tests

8.00

ODIs

213

4.60

First-class

223

629

270

1/1

38.57

2.57

89.8

List A

380

132

103

1/21

103.00

4.68

132.0

Twenty20

Career statistics

Test debut

Zimbabwe v India at Harare, Oct 18-22, 1992 scorecard

Last Test

Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Bulawayo, Nov 16-19, 2002 scorecard

Test statistics

ODI debut

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at New Plymouth, Feb 23, 1992 scorecard

Last ODI

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, Mar 15, 2003 scorecard

ODI statistics

First-class debut

1986/87

Last First-class

Leicestershire v Essex at Leicester, Sep 20-23, 2006 scorecard

List A debut

1988/89

Last List A

Durham v Essex at Chester-le-Street, Sep 17, 2006 scorecard

Twenty20 debut

Surrey v Essex at East Molesey, Jun 14, 2003 scorecard

Last Twenty20

Surrey v Essex at The Oval, Jul 1, 2006 scorecard

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.
Geoffrey Dean May 2007

Feb 13, 2008

Peter Moores and Andy Flower oversee England's training session © Getty Images

Nov 17, 2007

Andy Flower gives James Anderson a batting lesson © AFP

Oct 12, 2007

Andy Flower, England's assistan coach, oversees a nets session © Getty Images

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