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Zimbabwe’s greatest ever cricket player, Andy Flower scored more runs at a better average than any of his compatriots.
After excelling on the pitch, he moved to coaching and after a rapid rise, became England’s Team Director.
Andy played in Zimbabwe’s first Test Match, against India at Harare, and played for ten years scoring 12 centuries – twice as many as next on the list, his younger brother Grant – also taking 151 catches behind the stumps. Andy really established himself as one of the best batsmen in the world game from late 1999 when he scored seven centuries in 19 Tests, including two in the same match against South Africa at Harare in 2001. His Test best, of 232 not out, came against India in 2000.
Andy had two stints as Zimbabwe’s captain, the first of which saw him lead his country to its first Test victory against Pakistan in 1995 when he scored a century and Grant scored a double. During the second he led Zimbabwe on its first tour of England.
During the 2003 World Cup, Andy and his team-mate Henry Olonga wore black armbands in protest at the ‘death of democracy’ in Zimbabwe. Both retired from international cricket shortly afterwards and the MCC honoured their bravery by making both Honorary Life Members.
Andy represented South Australia for the 2003-4 season and Essex from 2002 to 2006 until injury forced him to retire. He scored over 16,000 first class runs including 49 first class centuries.
Having worked with Peter Moores and the England Academy as a batting coach in the winter of 2006-7, Flower became England’s assistant coach when Moores took charge of the senior team in 2007. He became Team Director in the spring of 2009 and coached England to home Ashes success that summer. In 2010 he coached England to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 – the country’s first world cup success.
Welcoming Andy’s endorsement of the eXtreme 5 Challenge Simon Grint said “people like Andy have really helped to put Zimbabwe on the map. We’re very pleased to have Andy in our side and value the contribution he will make to helping some of Zimbabwe’s pensioner’s.”
Henry Olonga has never been one to back down from challenges, be they sporting, political or otherwise and we’re pleased to
announce that Henry is endorsing the eXtreme 5 Challenge.
Born in Lusaka, Zambia in 1976 Henry grew up in Zambia and Kenya before moving to Zimbabwe in 1981. A talented athlete
he at one point harboured an ambition to represent Kenya at the Olympics. His athleticism was recognised by his school
cricket coach who suggested to Henry that Zimbabwe was in desperate need of a fast bowler for the national side which had
just gained test status.
Henry never looked back and in 1995 became the youngest player and the first black person to represent Zimbabwe at cricket. It was not an easy introduction, however, as his bowling action was declared illegal by the cricketing authorities. He was forced out of the game until, with the aid of Dennis Lilee, he had modified his bowling technique. Never one to let obstacles stand in his way, Henry returned to the side and became a permanent feature from 1998 onwards.
Henry’s career spanned 30 tests and 50 One Day Internationals taking 68 and 58 wickets in each of the respective formats. It came to a premature end at the 2003 Cricket World Cup when he and fellow Zimbabwean player Andrew Flower protested against the “death of democracy” in Zimbabwe by wearing black arm bands in the Super Sixes match against Namibia. The protest caught Zimbabwe’s cricketing authorities by surprise and it was made apparent to him that he was no longer welcome to play for Zimbabwe. At the end of the tournament Henry retired from International Cricket.
He now lives in the UK with his wife Tara and represents the Lashings side, an exhibition team of former international cricket players. He is also involved with music and video production.
Andy coaching England - top England batsman Kevin Pietersen receives some tips during training
Henry in action wearing the black arm band
Andy & Henry in the Zim line up
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