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Grant Flower

Grant Flower
Grant Flower Image: Wikimedia Commons. Gwynne Mack. Uploader was Kroome111 at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

Grant William Flower (born 20 December 1970) is a Zimbabwean cricket coach and former cricketer. Regarded as one of the finest cricketers Zimbabwe has produced, he was known for his consistent left-arm spin bowling, dependable batting at the top of the order, and outstanding fielding, particularly in the gully. Along with his elder brother Andy Flower, he formed the batting partnership popularly known as "Flower Power", which anchored Zimbabwe's batting line-up for nearly a decade.

Key facts

Full name Grant William Flower
Date of birth 20 December 1970
Nationality Zimbabwean
Role Opening batsman, left-arm spinner, gully fielder
Notable family Brother of Andy Flower
Coaching roles Batting coach of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Sussex
Pakistan tenure July 2014 – August 2019

Background

Flower came to be regarded as Zimbabwe's most successful opening batsman, performing the role of anchor at the top of the order while allowing the strokeplayers in the middle order to play freely. He was a noted fitness enthusiast who spent considerable time in the gym, and his agility translated into his reputation as a brilliant close-in fielder.

Playing career

Flower's batting was characterised by patience and consistency, while his left-arm spin gave the Zimbabwean side a useful additional bowling option. He played a leading role in what is often considered one of Zimbabwe's finest Test victories, achieved against a strong Pakistan side.

Pakistan proved to be a favoured opponent throughout his career: he averaged over 40 against them in Test cricket and scored three centuries against the side, including an unbeaten 201.

Carrying the bat

Flower holds a distinctive record in international cricket, being the first batsman to carry his bat across two different formats. He remains the only batsman to have carried his bat in both One Day Internationals and Test matches.

Coaching career

After retiring from playing, Flower moved into coaching and served as the batting coach of several teams, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the English county side Sussex.

In July 2014, he was appointed batting coach of the Pakistan cricket team on an initial two-year contract. He continued in the role beyond the original tenure, eventually serving until August 2019.

Significance

Flower is widely rated among the greatest Zimbabwean cricketers, both for his playing achievements and for his contribution as a coach to international cricket. The "Flower Power" partnership with his brother Andy was central to Zimbabwe's competitiveness during their early years as a Test-playing nation.

References