England Flowering to World Class Status
Congratulations to England who produced an emphatic victory over favorites Australia in Sunday’s Final of The ICC Twenty20 World Cup at The Kensington Oval, in Bridgetown, Barbados.
It was a result born out of committed teamwork, attacking and creative strategy, and revealed a ruthlessness in the execution of a world-class performance in the most challenging of environments: a World Cup Final.
World Cup Legend Bobby Moore - Paul Collingwood joins the iconic footballer as a World Cup Winning Captain
Kevin Pietersen was named Player of the Tournament and Craig Kieswetter Player of the Match in the Final, for his match-winning half century. With Michael Lumb the only batsman not to fire, it was left to Paul Collingwood to hit the winning runs. It was a fitting end to a highly productive winter for Collingwood who has become one of the most respected competitors in world cricket.
Andy Flower and Mushtaq Ahmed engage with England fans Kaid Mohammed and his father Syed
England’s triumph is testament to the quality of Coach Andy Flower’s quality leadership and the power of teamwork. With a tight-knit group, and consistency of selection matched by clearly defined roles to execute the team’s well-devised strategy, England has led the way in this tournament by taking International T20 Cricket to a new level. Detailed planning and players totally committed to the team’s attacking philosophy has given birth to a new freedom and licence for the England players to express themselves, more fully, in the heat of the battle.
Creative input from Middlesex’s Irish left-hander Eoin Morgan has added a new dimension to the team’s middle order. My only regret (and it may be churlish to highlight), is that much of the new found aggression and creativity has come from ‘foreign’ players.
The two new opening batsmen Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter (both born and raised in South Africa) who have previously played for South Africa Under 19s, gave the team a consistently superb platform to accelerate further, as the innings unfolded. Another South African, Kevin Pietersen, provided additional impetus, while Eoin Morgan was able to get ‘in’, before unveiling his impressive repertoire of creative strokes to establish dominance, and create winning positions in matches.
England’s batting was a joy to observe, full of breathtaking strokes and big sixes. It kept me on the edge of my seat anticipating the next big shot, rather than experiencing the trepidation which accompanies a reversal in fortunes. The possibility of the kind of batting collapse that had characterized many previous teams in one day cricket over several decades of under-achievement in the international game, seemed to be consigned to history in this tournament.
England’s bowlers revealed how ‘street-wise’ they had become, by adding an unprecedented variety and disguise to their bowling. Since touring Bangladesh, where the heat and very flat pitches make traditional seam bowling ineffective, key bowlers like Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan became more skilful practitioners as a result. The inclusion of skiddy slow left arm bowler Michael Yardy was an inspired selection on the pitches in West Indies to complement the established Graeme Swann, whose off-spinning excellence continues to be a key part of England’s success.
Andy Flower is a deep-thinking and highly-professional coach, whose polite, respectful and calm exterior masks the ruthlessness necessary to succeed on ‘the battlefield’. He has
excluded individuals who do not match his stringent requirements for a player to be a member of the professional group he leads.
The commitment to continuous improvement needs exacting standards to be in place by the leadership otherwise established players can become too comfortable. It is important that the senior players lead by personal example and become the ‘drivers’ of the group process internally. The commitment to quality in everything that is said and done within a group contributes towards a transformation over time.
By winning a Final for the first time, England’s cricketers have given birth to a new experience. Having won, the pattern is possible to repeat. Winning can become a welcome habit, and when it does, the opposition can begin to believe that the result is almost a foregone conclusion.
Undoubtedly, a new culture has been born within the team this winter, and the praise will go to the team for their success. However, I believe the credit should go to Andy Flower for inspiring the new culture. The character of the team has displayed new expression under his leadership.
The fruits of Flower’s leadership since inheriting a chaotic mess in the wake of Kevin Pietersen’s removal as Captain and the dismissal of Coach Peter Moores only fifteen months ago, can be seen in the greater (genuine) commitment to TEAM. Getting individuals to improve their contribution towards the collective effort is the only way to achieve over time, and it appears that the England Team Director has been able to engage people in this process very successfully.
Flower is an increasingly smart, and highly-impressive operator who chooses his words wisely. His humility, grace under pressure, and ability to manage his public profile carefully, reveal the hallmark of quality that is present in one of our country’s exceptional ‘Leaders in Life’.
Long may Andy Flower and the England Team lead by quality example and inspire others, while making us all feel very proud to be represented by such a fine body of men.
