May 4, 2003

For a team like Zimbabwe that is low on talent and heroes, Andy Flower was like a blossom in the desert. Whether Zimbabwe will be able to stand the pressures of cricket without him, only time will tell

AFTER more than 10 years of meritorious services to Zimbabwe cricket, Andy Flower chose the World Cup to leave the scene in rather poignant circumstances. He was arguably the only player from that country easily acknowledged as truly world class.

As it transpire now Zimbabwe, the bane of international cricket until Bangladesh came along on the scene, are now doomed to take the field without their most famous and greatest cricketing star.

Flower’s decision to call it a day from Test and One-day International cricket at the height of his powers took everyone by surprise. Flower was greatly disturbed by increasing political and economic unrest in Zimbabwe.

Together with Henry Olonga, the first black cricketer to represent the African nation at international level, Flower chose the World Cup to stage a defiant protest against the policies of Robert Mugabe’s regime. Both individuals sported black armbands during Zimbabwe’s opening fixture against Namibia at the Harare Sports Club. This courageous act invited political condemnation within the country, but widespread acclaim from the outside world.

Both Flower and Olonga issued a joint statement before the World Cup, in which they mourned the death of democracy in Zimbabwe. While fast bowler Olonga paid a high price for his action when the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) deliberately left him out of the playing eleven in all but two World Cup games, Flower continued his protest until Zimbabwe were knocked out of the Super Six round.

Flower announced his retirement from international cricket on the eve of Zimbabwe’s final Super Six encounter against Sri Lanka in East London. His last innings in national colours yielded 38 runs in typical gutsy style, before being, rather harshly adjudged lbw to Aravinda de Silva’s off-spin.

Soon afterwards Flower packed his bags and left for Chelmsford to join his English wife and two children where he will continue with his first-class career with Essex. He had also played for the same county last year with success. In addition, Flower will also be seen in action, later this year, in Australia’s domestic league when he plans to play for South Australia.

Olonga, meanwhile, scurried for safety after receiving death threats in his own country. Like his illustrious compatriot Olonga flew off to England after going into hiding in South Africa to escape Zimbabwe’s secret police.

It will be an irony for Heath Streak’s Zimbabwe tourists, who embark on an England tour, where they are likely to confront Flower in a One-day fixture against Essex prior to the start of the triangular tournament against England and South Africa.

Flower was no ordinary mortal. For a long time he was the sole bearer of Zimbabwe’s batting hopes. At the same time, he was burdened with the wicket-keeping gloves as well as leading the country in 20 of his 63 Tests.

Playing for a weak team such as Zimbabwe meant that Flower never really had the chance to hog the limelight like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara or Steve Waugh do. Of these three great names, Flower come close to matching the doughty Waugh since both belong to the group of players who are no batting genius. Like the current Australian Test skipper, Flower worked tirelessly at his game and even upstaged those with natural talent.

Hailing from a sporting family, Andrew Flower was born on April 28, 1968 in Cape Town. He returned to Harare (then known as Salisbury the capital of Rhodesia) with his family when he was around 10 years old.

Flower started his international career on a startling note when he carried his bat for an unbeaten 115 in Zimbabwe’s opening match of the 1992 World Cup against Sri Lanka in the small New Zealand city of New Plymouth. Flower was named Man-of-the-Match for a brilliant debut although Zimbabwe lost the high-scoring match by three wickets, after having scored 312 for four.

Zimbabwe created an upset in their final league match when they stunned World Cup favourites England by nine runs at Albury. This result went a long way in achieving Test status for the African nation later that year.

Zimbabwe’s inaugural Test in October 1992 against India marked the first appearance of Flower brothers, Andy and younger sibling Grant. Both hit half centuries with wicket-keeper Andy making 59 batting at No 7.

Five months later in Delhi, both Andy and Grant were poised to join Ian and Greg Chappell and Mushtaq and Sadiq Mohammad as the third pair of brothers to make centuries in the same Test innings. However, Grant perished for 96.

Nevertheless, Andy brought up his first century — 115 — in Test cricket against a country who were to become his favourite opponents in the intervening years. In just seven Tests against India, Flower amassed a staggering 1035 runs in 14 innings while averaging an astonishing 129.37.

A perfect exponent of reverse sweep, left-handed Flower tormented the Indian spinners to no end and repeatedly played the stroke on pitches turning square.

Flower was even more devastating in India where he plundered a mammoth 717 runs in three Tests, including a career-best unbeaten 232 at Nagpur after finishing on 183 not out at Delhi in the first Test of a two-match series in 2000-01. In that rubber, his other scores were 70 and 55, taking his grand total to 540 in four innings.

Flower joined a golden 13-month period from September 2000 in which he accumulated 1324 runs at an average of 110. Batting with remarkable consistency he equalled that great West Indian batsman, Everton Weekes’ world record of seven successive Test fifties.

A few weeks later, a hand injury did not prevent him from a stunning double against Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock when he made 142 and 199 not out against South Africa at Harare. In fact, he crossed 50 in 12 of his 18 innings during this period, going on to complete centuries on five occasions.

Behind the stumps, Flower never quite reached the same high standard to match his outstanding batting. He was relieved from his dual role when Tatenda Taibu arrived on the Test scene last year. Taibu, who stands just five feet two inches, has made the job his own and now goes to England as Zimbabwe’s new vice captain.

Flower succeeded Dave Houghton as national skipper when Zimbabwe made their maiden tour of Pakistan in 1993-94. Although he led a young inexperienced team well, Flower had a tough baptism in that role.

Zimbabwe’s first Test victory in 1994-95 was attributed to the Flower brothers who combined superbly in a fraternal partnership of 269 after their team were in tatters at 42 for three against a Pakistan bowling attack led by Wasim Akram. Andy made 156 on that occasion while Grant went on to make an unbeaten 201.

Flower had several stints as captain before he was summarily sacked once Zimbabwe returned home from an unsuccessful tour of England in 2000. The cause of his ouster as skipper, according to a few teammates, was Flower had played the leading role in a pay dispute at the start of the tour of England.

A man of strong mind, Flower had a few tiffs with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. And when he was dumped from the captaincy, Flower was hurt although his colleagues gave him full support and responded positively to his leadership.

Flower’s deeds for Zimbabwe will always be mentioned in golden words. No other player from his country was able to match his record in both forms of the game.

In 63 Tests, Flower amassed 4794 runs at an average of 51.54, scoring 12 centuries and 27 fifties. In addition, he held 151 catches and stumped nine batsmen.

In 213 One-day Internationals, Flower scored 6786 runs (averaging 35.74) and only converted four of 59 fifties into centuries with a best of 145. He took 141 catches and effected 32 stumpings.

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