Ashes 2013: Andy Flower backs England bowlers to shine in Durham
Ashes 2013: England team director Andy Flower backs the hosts' bowlers to shine against Australia in the fourth Test in Durham
Andy Flower has urged England’s fast bowlers to tear through the Australia batting order in the fourth Test in Durham, which starts on Friday.
Alastair Cook’s men retained the Ashes following the drawn match at Old Trafford on Monday, with the weather denying the Wallabies the chance to capitalise on an impressive performance.
And Flower revealed England’s bowlers have been working hard in training as the hosts look to capitalise on favourable conditions at the Emirates Durham ICG.
“Our bowlers have put in some extremely hard work over the first couple of days here,” team director Flower said.
“The Australians batted well in the first innings and our bowlers will need to look after themselves over the next few days to be ready for that Durham Test.
“Durham can traditionally help the fast bowlers so we’d like to exploit that help.”
Flower also praised England’s resilience in their first innings to prevent the follow-on before the weather conditions played a decisive role.
“We were behind the game here at Old Trafford for most of the game but we fought hard,” he added.
“I thought our performance in the first innings was the key to drawing this game, to bat for 140 overs on a wearing pitch, Cook and Bell with excellent sixties and Pietersen with a brilliant hundred and some of our lower order playing well in amongst the tension of getting past the follow-on.
“I thought they did brilliantly and I thought the fight and the resilience and the character we showed in that first innings is the reason why we drew this Test.”
