Flower praises team's improvement

Andy Flower has praised England's ability to "adapt and overcome" after their Test series victory in India.

At the start of 2012, Pakistan's spinners helped whitewash England but the team director's side recovered in India after a difficult first Test.

"Here [in India] we have shown we can learn and adapt and overcome," the 44-year-old told BBC Sport.

"There were handshakes, hugs, embraces and slaps on the back all around in the England dressing room. They have worked so hard in this series. What odds were there on us witnessing that? It's quite remarkable. They have done it the hard way, through outstanding leadership on and off the pitch."

"We did not play that well against the spin in the United Arab Emirates, but we have also done superb things."

He added: "I certainly would not describe this year as a year of decline, that would be careless in the extreme. I think we have had up and down results.

"We became number one in one-day international cricket,  we drew an important Test series in Sri Lanka, we won a Test series against the West Indies and we lost to a very good South African side in England. I do not think there was any embarrassment in that."

The game in Nagpur, in which England secured their first series victory in India for 27 years, was the team's final Test commitment of a year which started in embarrassing fashion in the Middle East against Pakistan.

The resolute play on show in India was also a stark contrast to the faltering performance in Ahmedabad when India's batsman began the series by powering their way to a 521-8 declaration before their bowlers restricted England to 191 all out in the first innings.

Cook delights in 'special' victory

"It is very satisfying for that group of 30 blokes up there to have come out here and adapted to these conditions and overcome the opposition," Flower said. "It has taken a lot of hard work and thought, and a lot of skill. They should be very proud of themselves."

England's coaching set-up was changed in November when Flower relinquished his role as head coach of the one-day international and Twenty20 sides to former England spinner Ashley Giles.

The Zimbabwean hopes the decision will boost England's performance in limited-overs cricket in 2013.

Flower said: "I needed something to change and I hoped this would make us a more efficient organisation and will be a better use of our resources.

"The injection of new ideas and energy from a successful coach, and successful international cricketer [Giles] is something Alastair Cook is looking forward to. Hopefully, it takes our limited-overs cricket up a couple of notches."

View the original article here