Former England boss Andy Flower to coach Lions side

Andy Flower is to take charge of an England team again just seven months after he stepped down as coach of the senior side following the disastrous tour of Australia.

Flower will coach the England Lions side, the understudies to the main squad, for two 50-over matches against the ‘A’ teams from Sri Lanka and New Zealand next month. The 13-man squad, which includes fast bowler Steve Finn and will be captained by Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor, appears to have been picked with the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in mind — but it is the presence of Flower that will raise eyebrows.

Flower quit as team director on January 31 after nearly five years in the job. Many expected that move to signal the end of his involvement with the England and Wales Cricket Board, but instead the new regime, headed by managing director Paul Downton, opted to retain Flower in a broader role at the National Cricket Academy.

As part of his new brief, Flower has been working with players on the fringes of the England squad, such as Jonny Bairstow, another man included in this Lions squad. But those who believed England needed a break with the past after the 5-0 Ashes whitewash might be surprised to see Flower so directly involved with England again.

Finn’s inclusion is encouraging for the Middlesex player, whose bowling had declined to such an extent that he went home early from Australia. He is some way from a Test return but this is a big step. Jason Roy and Ravi Patel are two other interesting inclusions. Roy, an explosive batsman, is enjoying a breakthrough season with Surrey, while left-arm spinner Patel, of Middlesex, is one of our most promising slow bowlers.