Cricket: Flower to be allowed to skip tours

Flower’s new deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board includes a clause enabling him to skip tours.

LONDON: There is widespread speculation that Andy Flower’s new deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) includes a clause enabling him to skip tours in order to avoid burn-out.

Flower was vocal about his criticism of England’s winter itinerary, which included the Ashes series and World Cup in quick succession, and it gave the squad just three days at home in a five-month stretch. ECB’s Managing Director Hugh Morris will meet Flower in May and it is expected that Flower will be allowed to sit out certain future tours.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2011.