Complacent, arrogant England - as usual?

Flower rejects that usual, tired formula.

Okay, he would say that, wouldn't he?

But I think he nails the source of the much chattered-about complacency and arrogance firmly on the head.

More worrying perhaps is his singling out of Bell for praise, alongside Prior.



But then, I suppose he would, wouldn't he?



No complacency in English camp - Flower

Published: Thursday March 28, 2013 - Source: Fairfax/BBC

England coach Andy Flower said there was no complacency in his team in the tense drawn series with New Zealand, but stressed improvement would be needed for the return matches in England and the looming Ashes series there.

Speaking to the BBC as England analysed their escape act at Eden Park that saw them emerge with a draw, Flower brushed off suggestions his players had taken the lowly-ranked Black Caps lightly. "There was no complacency in our camp at all ... none whatsoever," he said. "Your reference to the media talking about the fact we should win easily, or comfortably, is probably where you draw that information from. It's certainly not within our dressing room. We knew when we came here we had a real fight on our hands, and we prepared for that.

"We respect the New Zealand cricket team. We place importance on all international series and it would be disrespectful to do anything other than that - there was no complacency in our camp," he said. "We understood it would be a tough challenge to come here and win. Just because you are ranked above another team it doesn't give you the right to win any series."

A lack of runs and an inability for his bowlers to swing the ball were at the root of England's struggles, Flower suggested.

"It was a good escape in the end. But we got ourselves into trouble, we didn't play particularly great cricket and did well to get a draw," he said. "Ian Bell and Matt Prior were excellent; they fought hard and that's a quality of the team, but we have to be better to get into winning positions, not scratching our way to a draw.

"We didn't move the ball sideways, and if you don't move the ball against international batsmen, you are not going to create chances. That was worrying for me. They (New Zealand) swung the ball and we didn't do that too much."

(...) "We have not played great cricket in New Zealand. But I would say New Zealand have played well, and it should make for an interesting series at the start of the summer. We've got a big year of international cricket, and we will need to be sharper, better and more skilful."


Certainly hope they will!

Well, it's been the same for almost a decade with Bell, one half decent performance is enough to outweigh several crap ones with the coach/selectors, and usually perfectly timed to be fresh in the mind at the end of a series.

I certainly think they turned up thinking this would be a walkover and a holiday though, even if they wouldn't have said as much. There's nearly always a dip after a big achievement, like the win in India. Yes NZ performed above themselves and gave themselves hope for the future but England weren't prepared for that out-performance and didn't have an answer. They all turned up now and then, nobody was consistently bad so hard to find a scapegoat but very few were consistently on their game either. There needs to be a lot more focus on every series if we're to hold onto number 2 ranking never mind get anywhere close to SA with this generation of players.

Yup, I certainly agree there's a long way to go to challenge the current SAf - if it's doable with these players. I think most have the skill levels, but consistency is pretty much to hell in all quarters but Prior's performances.

I'd also agree most of the dogs had at least a day or two. The exception being the presently hapless Jonny B, perhaps. Jonny B all at sea.

It was worrying that Monty got very little purchase. Outspun by part-time offie Kane Richardson.

The other worries are well documented.

Jonny B only played one match, with no preparation. It didn't help his cause and he might have slipped behind the Morgans, Jimmy Ts and even Chavi Flops of this world in terms of the Ashes pecking order, but still, it's one match.

In terms of challenging SA, we're not going to do so directly with this group of players as we don't play them for 3 years, both sides will look very different by then. So it's a case of challenging them through consistency against the "lesser" teams.

beamer wrote:Jonny B only played one match, with no preparation. It didn't help his cause and he might have slipped behind the Morgans, Jimmy Ts and even Chavi Flops of this world in terms of the Ashes pecking order, but still, it's one match.

In terms of challenging SA, we're not going to do so directly with this group of players as we don't play them for 3 years, both sides will look very different by then. So it's a case of challenging them through consistency against the "lesser" teams.

Don't know if SA will be all different.

taipan wrote:

beamer wrote:Jonny B only played one match, with no preparation. It didn't help his cause and he might have slipped behind the Morgans, Jimmy Ts and even Chavi Flops of this world in terms of the Ashes pecking order, but still, it's one match.

In terms of challenging SA, we're not going to do so directly with this group of players as we don't play them for 3 years, both sides will look very different by then. So it's a case of challenging them through consistency against the "lesser" teams.

Don't know if SA will be all different.

Well, 3 years down the line - Kallis will surely be done, Steyn will be well into his 30s and it's down to luck if a pace bowler remains fit and effective by that age. Smith will be at the veteran stage as well. Although most of the players have a good chance of still being around in Test cricket by then, a few are probably at their peak around now.

I'm sorry - but I just don't buy into hungry, well-drilled, totally prepared for the opposition, bowlers wanging it down all over the shop, usually bowling to the strengths of the batsman facing. No-one (and I repeat no-one) is that stupid.

Similarly, with the batsmen, some of the disgraceful shots smack of nothing but arrogance. The ones who dug in and didn't underestimate the opposition reaped the rewards.

Come outside and say that to Flower.