The Ashes: Flower power does the job

Whilst everyone ponders who the key man was for England in the Ashes, and most would probably go for Andrew Strauss, let’s take a moment to think about the contribution of their recently appointed team director.

Andy Flower was only appointed to the job on a permanent basis in April, having taken temporary charge of the tour to West Indies.  To some observers he was tainted by association with Peter Moores.  There have been doubts about his suitability for the job, his strength in the face of established players and their egos and a hundred and one other things.  Some of this died down before the start of the Ashes, but not all.

What a brilliant job he has done so far.  The comfort culture that had beset the team is gone, and players who are not pulling their weight (or pulling too much weight in the case of Samit Patel) have been well and truly cut down to size.  New players have been brought in who, whilst not always successful, have a long-term future with England.  Panic has been avoided where it might have been easier to cave in.

He has, it is said, been given the decisive say over selection in consultation with Strauss.  The tricky selection of Jonathan Trott for the Oval, made amid the most ridiculous media panic, has been utterly vindicated.

His suitability for the job cannot now be in doubt.  All that remains is to sit back and enjoy as he and Strauss attempt to evolve the team into one that can challenge at the top of the rankings and can retain the Ashes in 2010/11.