5 famous coach-captain relationships in cricket

#4 Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss

Flower and Strauss with the test mace

Both Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower were assigned their new roles, of captain and coach respectively, in 2009. Both had taken charge after an ugly spat between the former coach Peter Moores and the former Captain Kevin Pietersen. Having to steer the team in such a precarious situation was a tough job. But the duo forged a formidable relationship and ensured that English cricket saw some bright years.

Flower and Strauss helped England in regaining the Ashes in 2009 with the later amassing 474 runs in the series. England followed that up with test series victories over Bangladesh and Pakistan.

In 2010, despite Strauss’ absence, Andy Flower guided an inexperienced team into winning the ICC T20 World Cup played in the Carribean. The Strauss-Flower duo reunited for the 2011 Ashes which England won by beating Australia 3-1 and thereby making Strauss the first English Captain to win the Ashes both home and away.

In the 2011 ICC World Cup played in the sub-continent, England put up a decent performance by reaching the semi-finals of the tournament. For a brief period, England even won the test championship mace in 2011 under the partnership of the iconic duo.