Flower wants a Broad focus on wickets

Team director praises fast-bowler’s competitiveness and fighting spirit .

LONDON:

England director Andy Flower wants his star fast-bowler Stuart Broad to concentrate on improving his accuracy instead of focusing on playing the role of England’s ‘enforcer’, according to ESPNcricinfo.

In recent times Broad has taken upon the mantle of being the aggressor in England’s pace attack and has gained the reputation of someone who can unsettle batsmen with bouncers. Flower praised Broad’s fighting spirit and competitiveness but said that he needed to focus more on accuracy.

“Broad’s got pace and bounce and he’s a great competitor, but he can be more accurate,” said Flower. “I’ve heard some crazy stuff about him being - and I hate this word - an enforcer.  His job is to create pressure and to take wickets and to do that you bowl at off stump. His job is not to be this ridiculous enforcer.”

The term ‘enforcer’ was first coined by England bowling coach David Saker for the fast-bowler who had said that he wanted Broad to be the team’s aggressor-in-chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2011.