Bharath Ramaraj in Dubai
It is Zimbabwe’s first innings of the Delhi Test played against India in early 1993. Andy Flower, a young left-hand batter, strides out to the middle with his team in strife. Soon, Anil Kumble, India’s spin spearhead, bowls one short. In a flash, Flower picks the length early and cracks the pull through the midwicket region. The wicketkeeper-batter doesn’t even seem to have a second look at whether the ball has raced away to the boundary. The shot is defiant and dismissive.
That stroke also turns out to be the hallmark of his batting in that innings – The ability to pick the length quickly in order to play cuts and pulls. Not sure how, but more than three decades have gone by since Flower cracked that valiant hundred in Delhi. But those above-mentioned lines gushed forth like a river as soon as yours truly noticed Flower sitting in the 080 International Lounge, at the Bengaluru Airport, en-route to Dubai to cover the Champions Trophy. It was a chance meeting that brought back some childhood memories.
After a brief introduction, the first question went on the following lines, ‘Sir, do you have any memories from your maiden Test ton in Delhi?’ With a smile on his face, Flower remembered how after doing all the hard work, he charged down the deck to Maninder Singh and was stumped. Unfortunately, it was his wicket that led to a collapse. Eventually, Zimbabwe lost that Test. “Yes, I was stumped. Our coach told, ‘You played a very good innings, but it was your wicket that turned out to be the reason for the defeat.’” Zimbabwe’s coach at the time was John Hampshire, the tough cookie from Yorkshire.
In reality, cricket fans would most likely recall Flower’s countless sweeps and reverse sweeps from the 2000-01 series in India or his marathon efforts against South Africa, the very next year. But there was something different about Flower’s innings in the one-off Test, in 1993. He was like a visionary designer, threading the minutest gaps in the field with his rapier-like willow.
In an instant, the mind travelled more than 2500 days in time – The occasion was the Port of Spain Test between Zimbabwe and West Indies. When Courtney Walsh dismissed Murray Goodwin, Zimbabwe were again in a spot of bother at 27 for 3, in pursuit of West Indies’ first innings of 187.
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In some tricky conditions for batting, with enough of the deliveries keeping low, Flower’s mantra seemed simple – At every given opportunity, take a stride out to drive Reon King and Courtney Walsh. Even when he wasn’t to the pitch of the ball, Flower threw the kitchen sink at it. After paddling through some tough spells, Flower reached the three-figure mark with an uppish drive of probably Walsh.
Flower shared an interesting anecdote about that innings: “I wasn’t given out the first ball, I had gloved one to the ‘keeper.” For a while, the brain remained blank about this particular incident. Maybe, just maybe Walsh had found a hint of extra lift via a back of a length delivery, with Flower eking out an edge down leg. Hidden beneath that admission was Flower’s self-effacing nature. Despite a couple of narrow escapes, including a fluffed chance by Chris Gayle, it is an underrated innings, especially considering the fact that the West Indies’ attack comprised Walsh and Ambrose.
There was just enough time to have a short conflab of one more innings: Flower’s Test hundred at Colombo SSC, January 1998. The reason behind bringing up this knock was it kick-started Flower’s glorious run in the Test arena. He aggregated 2,993 runs at an astounding average of 73 over a three-year period – January 14, 1998 to November 15, 2001. In that phase, against either spin or pace, Flower just seemed unstoppable. Tales of his reverse sweeps from that time are still talked about.
Unfortunately, this Colombo Test has gone down in the annals of history for some poor umpiring decisions by KT Francis and Salim Haider. Dave Houghton, the-then coach, was very outspoken about some of the decisions from that game. In the brief chat, Flower too showed his displeasure. What did he exactly say? Perhaps better to keep it to ‘disappointed’, instead of spelling out the exact words. Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga were the two batters who got some reprieves.
After exchanging a few pleasantries and an autograph to boot, it was time to bid goodbye. In retrospect, the discussion could have continued: His first ODI ton in New Plymouth, his successful coaching stints with England and T20 franchises. During a chance meeting, it is difficult to bring out everything about a career that mostly twinkled in gold. But one more capsule was added in the suburbs of the memory with the tagline – The few nuggets from Andy Flower’s achievements.
Also Read: A night to remember at Edgbaston – India’s 2013 Champions Trophy win
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