Moores confident of Flintoff resurgence
ENGLAND coach Peter Moores
has read little of his
predecessor Duncan Fletcher's
autobiography but is confident
of Andrew Flintoff's
determination to bounce back.
Flintoff came in for some
heavy criticism in Fletcher's
book, with the Zimbabwean
revealing that the team's star
all-rounder captain arrived
drunk at a training session in
Australia last winter.
Moores, who took over from
Fletcher after the World Cup,
has had little opportunity to
work with Flintoff, who is out
until next summer after a
fourth ankle operation.
Moores said: History starts
for me the day I took over.
That's the only fair way to go.
To be fair to Freddie he's
been great. He's got stuck in
and done his work.
He went to the Twenty20
World Cup and had some pain
but managed it well. Now he is
very committed to getting stuck
into his rehab, to get that
sorted, and get back fit.
He's done it right and done it
hard. I think Freddie is very
clear on what he wants to do
and is focused on getting
himself back fit.''
Fletcher has been criticised
for revealing details of the
training session.
Yet Moores has no intention
of being dragged into the
controversy and says he has not
seen a lot of the book, which
enjoyed a high-profile
serialisation in a national
newspaper.
I haven't read much of it,''
he said. I'll probably be
tempted to at some stage.
I saw one piece in one paper
and it's not for me to comment.
Duncan's done his stuff and
written his book and that's his
choice. He was in there and I
can't really comment.''
England have enjoyed a
month's break since their oneday
series win in Sri Lanka but
they return to the country next
week ahead of December's three
Tests.
Michael Vaughan is also
preparing to reassume the
captaincy after giving way to
Paul Collingwood for the
Twenty20s and one-day
internationals.
Moores hailed the efforts of
Collingwood but believes the
return of Vaughan has given a
now refreshed squad a new
impetus.
Moores said: We have had a
very good trip to Sri Lanka, the
side grew and Paul Collingwood
grew as a captain.
What's been very noticeable
is Michael coming back in. He's
had a break, he's very hungry
and has a huge drive about him
to win the Test series.
Michael has been captain for
a long time and been very
successful so it's quite easy for
him to take up the reins.
I think Paul Collingwood, as
well, is quite happy to see that
and he gets the chance now to
concentrate on his own game
for what is obviously going to
be a very tough tour.
I think the scheduling has
worked really well. The fact we
have had one series and a short
break has given everyone the
chance to recharge.''
One potential
addition to the
squad is paceman
Steve Harmison,
who is playing
in
South
Africa for Highveld Lions in
an attempt to prove his
fitness.
Harmison, one of the
stars of the 2005 Ashes
success, has not played for
England since June due to
a hernia operation.
Moores has received
encouraging reports on his
condition from bowling
coach Ottis Gibson and is
hopeful he will be fit but
insisted the onus is very
much with the player
after so long out.
Moores said: The
first thing was to
get him out there
and get him fit.
The reports
back from Ottis
are he's fine.
He'll have two
first-class
games and
we'll see how
he goes. He's
not just got to
be physically
fit, he's got to
be bowling fit.
We've got
a couple of
weeks when
we get there
but it's going
to be crucial
we hit that
series very
well.
Steve has
to be fit
enough to
bowl but also to
bowl well enough
for Test cricket."
10:40am Friday 9th November 2007
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