Monday 27 February 2012

England Flower Against Spin


Team director Andy Flower says England have "learned lessons" on how to play Pakistan's spinners.

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan claimed England have "a problem against spin" after the 3-0 Test series defeat.

But the tourists won the one-day campaign 4-0 and levelled the three-match Twenty20 series on Saturday.

"We've learned some lessons from that Test series, specifically on how to play the spin," Flower said ahead of Monday's Twenty20 decider in Abu Dhabi.

England won the second Twenty20 in Dubai by 38 runs thanks to Jonny Bairstow's unbeaten 60 and a polished performance with the ball and in the field.

"It was an outstanding performance - great to level the series and give us a chance of winning it in the last game," Flower told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme.

"Playing spin in the limited-overs games is slightly different to playing it in the Test game, but I still think the lessons that we learnt there have served us well through this limited-overs leg.

"That's part of it. We have got a group of people who are used to winning games of cricket.

"As disappointing as the Test series was, I don't think it dented people's confidence that badly that we couldn't come back and perform outstandingly well, and that's exactly what they've done in this limited-overs leg."

Flower also believes exposure to high-class spin will help Bairstow and Jos Buttler's development ahead of England's defence of their ICC World Twenty20 crown in Sri Lanka in September.

"The experience that those guys will have gained in a pressure situation against very good opposition in these conditions will be absolutely vital to their growth - and to our growth as a side. We have to have, at this stage, an eye on the World Cup," added Flower.

"How we play against spin bowlers in these conditions - and how quickly we learn - is vital to our chances in Sri Lanka."