Andy Flower on playing England

Andy Flower has played in both of Zimbabwe's Tests and all seven of their one-day internationals against England. He talks to John Ward about what it is like to play England.

JW: Andy, what are the characteristics of the English teams you have played against?

AF: Well, we have quite a nice, albeit brief, record against England. We have played some good cricket against them. We probably caught them at times when they were a bit down, and we would obviously like to build on that record. I think they are in a transitional period at the moment, where they are trying out new blood. My initial thought are that we can beat them if we play good cricket, and we are going to have to play good cricket. I think they have shown, even though they are two-nil down in this Test series at the moment, that they have a bit more fight to them at present, maybe a bit more steel. Whether that is the influence of Duncan Fletcher or Hussain I'm not sure. I don't know their situation that well. But they're fighting had, and I think they're going to be hard to beat.

JW: What is the atmosphere like on the field when you play them?

AF: There was a history, the last time they were out here, that relationships weren't too great, and I suppose relations between the two sides haven't been great over the years, except maybe for a few individuals. But I don't see why that should be a situation that perpetuates itself. I believe we should communicate and make friends with the opposition - off the field! I don't think we've had any on-field problems with them. There's on-field chirping, as with most sides, and I don't think it's been a problem.

JW: Compared with the South Africans, from what I've heard, the English don't seem to be as intense or as utterly committed.

AF: That's not a judgement I would make, as to whether they are committed or not. But the intensity may not be there; I think that might be a fair statement to make. I think that intensity that the South Africans show in the field may not be there.

JW: What about the tactics they use on the field?

AF: Hussain seems to be an attacking captain, but I haven't played against a side captained by him, so I can't comment first-hand. Tactically they're sound - I don't think there's any doubt about that; they have a lot of experience on their side, in Test and one-day cricket. I don't think there's anything out of the ordinary in the way they play the game .

JW: Who have been their key players over the years?

AF: I think Gough is a key player, obviously as a strike bowler, someone who affects the atmosphere of the game. I think Caddick is a key player; I think he's a top-quality bowler and he's going to be difficult to face. On the batting side, I think at the moment Hussain is their key batsman; he's batting beautifully and he's leading from the front. He's going to be a man to watch, and important not to let him dominate. I think Hick might come out with something to prove on this tour and he will be a very dangerous player. I think he's unlucky not to be a more permanent fixture in their side.

JW: Who do you rate as their best batsmen in the past?

AF: Atherton, for all the well-known reasons. Gooch didn't get many against us. But I think Hussain is the guy who stands out at the moment.

JW: And the leading bowlers over the years?

AF: Fraser has been around; he's a steady bowler. No one else really stands out in my mind.

JW: And the most impressive fielders over the years?

AF: Hussain has impressed me. He's sharp in the field and he hits the stumps. I think Alec Stewart is a lovely wicket-keeper, very impressive as a keeper/batsman. Nick Knight is a very good fielder; he'll be playing in their one-day side. Darren Maddy is a good fielder, but I don't think anyone else really stands out.

JW: You talked earlier about relationships between the teams. Can you name any of the England players who were particularly outgoing and friendly, willing to mix and have a chat?

AF: When they were last here, they weren't happy; they were under pressure from their media, and not many of them were outgoing and friendly. But I thought Stewart and Atherton were keen to have a beer and a chat after the game, even though they were under so much pressure. Those were two guys that I noticed. Silverwood had made some good friends in the Zimbabwean team over the years, and Croft, together with a few of the other guys we got to know quite well - Douggie Brown and others.

JW: Mike Atherton has had a bad press in many ways, especially when he was out here, but I have heard you, Dave Houghton and others say that it was quite undeserved.

AF: Yes, I think he was hard done by in the press. I think he's a good bloke, a solid guy who was more than willing to have a chat and a drink after the game.

JW: I know there haven't been many of them, considering our record against them at the moment, but are there any particularly outstanding individual performances against us that you can remember?

AF: I think Mullally is a very good bowler. He bowled very well against us in the World Cup match at Trent Bridge. I think he also bowled well in that Test match in Bulawayo. I'm surprised he's not in their Test team at the moment.