Graham Griffiths, London | Monday 11.30am.
ZIMBABWE captain Andy Flower has warned England his players are down but not out after being crushed in the first test that ended at Lord’s on Sunday.
”We are not demoralised to the extent where we cannot fight back,” Flower said as the touring team began planning to turn their form around in the second and final test starting at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on June 1.
Zimbabwe lost by an innings and 209 runs with more than a day to spare at Lord’s, giving England their biggest victory in any test since they beat India by an innings and 285 runs at the same venue in 1974.
Flower, whose side were skittled for 83 and 123, added: ”If one good thing is going to come out of this, it means we’ve got to fight back stronger. We have to realise where we are, and take some harsh, honest looks at ourselves.”
Although Monday has effectively become a free day after the test ended in four days, Zimbabwe plan to organise a practice session rather than take the day off to relax and forget about their defeat. ”We’ve got some things to iron out and the sooner we get started the better,” said Flower, who acknowledged the batting showed technical deficiences and was their greatest weakness.
”Even if we bowl sides out for less than 300, we have got to score runs, then we can compete quite easily. But if you score these tiny totals you’ve got no chance.”
Flower has the demanding triple role of leading the team, being one of its top order batsman, as well as the wicketkeeper, and in a refreshingly open way he expressed concern about his display behind the stumps.
”It was probably my worst ‘keeping performance in all tests. I hardly caught a ball in the middle of the gloves. With fielding as one of our strengths, I think the wicketkeeper should be the guy that leads the fielding side and I didn’t do that at all,” Flower said.
His opposite number Nasser Hussain emphasised England were not getting carried away by the comprehensive victory at the start of their busiest home international season, in which they have another test with Zimbabwe, five against the West Indies, plus a triangular limited overs tournament.
Hussain said: ”We’ll keep our feet on the ground, pat ourselves on the back, but we realise there is a Zimbabwe side who are wounded and want to come back at us and there is a side called West Indies to come later on.” — Reuters
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