Storyline: Andy Flower is a retired cricket player who represented Zimbabwe. Despite putting up great numbers in a 10-year career, Flower hasn’t gotten the recognition he deserves. Written by Venkatesh, Channai, India
What is “greatness” in sports? Is it a quantified/qualified substance? Is it popularity, such as where the player hails from, for whom he plays, his most memorable performances?
Courtesy: The Times
In cricket, while there have been many dream test elevens from various cricketers–present and past and across the globe–and a variety of discussions on the best test batsmen of all-time or from different eras, Andy Flower’s name is almost never mentioned.
But a look through his career numbers would suggest otherwise. Flower has a staggering test average of 51.54 in a career spanning a decade (1992-2002). Only Tendulkar, Lara, and Waugh had an average above 50. And Flower was the wicket keeper, as well, for 55 of the 63 tests in which he played.
What’s more, Flower did all of this playing on a weak team. He came in to bat with a team score less than 100 and, in most cases, 50. He often did played against the world’s best bowlers, too, when they were at their deadly best and with his side in early trouble.
The bottom line is that Flower’s numbers are at par or better than any of his peers. Consider the numbers (below) in terms of Home and Away and versus different Opposition, both overall and away.
(Opposition: Overall, Home, Away)
All Opposition: 51.54 51.81 51.26
England: 33.33 44.00 22.66
India: 94.83 63.6 117.14
New Zealand: 40.05 31.1 54.14
Pakistan: 44.33 48.58 38.66
South Africa: 70.75 85.66 26 (only 2 Innings)
Sri Lanka: 38.90 67.71 23.38
West Indies: 64.66 Never Played 64.66
Other noteworthy statistics include:
(Category Average)
Matches Won: 84.50
Matches Lost: 43.06
Matches Drawn: 65.58
1st Innings: 50.62
2nd Innings: 46.23
3rd Innings: 60.85
4th Innings: 38.28
As Captain: 49.28
As Non-Captain: 52.52
As Keeper: 53.70
The consistency–and the 40+ and 50+ averages–across so many categories is remarkable for someone on a team that was always in trouble. When Flower walked in more often than not, he was the opposition’s main target and also was the captain for a number of those matches.
Courtesy: Flower Collective
Also worthwhile noting is that Flower faced the likes of Ambrose, Walsh, Wasim, Waqar, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Mcgrath, Warne, Vaas, Muralitharan during the decade he played cricket.
Whilst other legends who are celebrated may have been the foremost reason for their respective nation’s cricketing performance, Flower was the reason Zimbabwe was on the Cricketing map so long, something that’s a humongous struggle right now.
So whilest “great” is often an overused term in sport, it’s a shame that Andy Flowers is one of the least celebrated and talked about cricketeers. My hope is that this article will instigate interest in his play–to recognize, celebrate, and popularize arguably the greatest test wicket keeper batsman who ever played the game.
