SMALL TEAM,S BIG PLAYER ANDREW FLOWER

Full name Andrew Flower Born April 28, 1968, Cape Town, Cape Province, South AfricaCurrent age 40 years 111 daysMajor teams Zimbabwe, Essex, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mashonaland, South AustraliaNickname PetalsBatting style Left-hand batBowling style Right-arm offbreakFielding position WicketkeeperOther CoachHeight 5 ft 10 inEducation Vainona High SchoolRelations Brother - GW Flower

Test debut
Zimbabwe v India at Harare, Oct 18-22, 1992

Last Test
Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Bulawayo, Nov 16-19, 2002

ODI debut
Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at New Plymouth, Feb 23, 1992

Last ODI
Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, Mar 15, 2003

Profile

The elder of two Test-playing brothers, Andy Flower was for a long time Zimbabwe's only batsman of true Test quality in all conditions. For a period of about two years from the start of 2000 he was so phenomenally consistent that he has no rival as the best player in Zimbabwe's history. His wicketkeeping, though, was sometimes less dependable, and probably suffered from the added strain of having to lead the side. He had two stints as captain, leading Zimbabwe to their first Test victory against Pakistan in 1994-95, and then becoming the first Zimbabwean to lead a Test tour of England, in 2000. An assured player of fast bowling since his early days as an opener, Flower matured into one of the best players of spin in the world, and on the Indian tour early in 2001 he made 540 runs for twice out. By then, he had gone from underrated over-achiever to a recognised star, with a spell at No. 1 in the international ratings. Opposing bowlers targeted him accordingly and after a phenomenal Test against South Africa at Harare, when he made 142 and 199 not out, he suffered a rare slump. Off the field, Flower is a keen student of Zimbabwe's history, of which he is now a notable part. He announced his retirement from international cricket after a turbulent 2003 World Cup, which started with an unprecedented protest by Flower, and his equally brave team-mate Henry Olonga, about what they called the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe. Flower played for Essex from 2002 until 2006, and enjoyed a season in South Australia in 2003-04. He was joined at Essex by his brother Grant in 2005, and they became the first brothers to score first-class centuries for the county in the same innings against Lancashire that year. But injury ruled him out of the 2007 season, and when the offer came to become England's assistant coach, he retired and took it.