ANDY FLOWER PROUD OF 'RESILIENT' ENGLAND TEAM

NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom / Nottinghamshire, July 15, 2013 (AFP) - England coach Andy Flower on Monday praised his “resilient” side after their thrilling 14-run win over Australia in the first Test at Trent Bridge.

Victory put the Ashes-holders 1-0 up in the five-match series with a quick turnaround before the second Test at Lord's on Thursday.

But Flower, not one to buy in to suggestions of a 5-0 England sweep or even 10-0 come the end of back-to-back Ashes in Australia in January, forecast the tourists would be just as tough to beat at “the home of cricket” as they were in Nottingham. “We never for a moment thought that this match or the series would be a walkover,” said Flower. “I know we hear the odd thing in the media predicting some funny results but we always knew this would be a tough battle.

“This is a really good example and I'm sure it will be a tough fight for the remainder of the series.” England named an unchanged squad of 13 on Monday with attention focused on whether fast bowler Steven Finn, not at his best in the second innings, would be retained in the starting XI for a match at his Middlesex home ground.

There were also concerns as to whether James Anderson, the fulcrum of England's attack, would be able to recover in time after a punishing first Test where he bowled 13 successive overs Sunday on his way to a decisive match haul of 10 wickets.

“It will have taken something out of all the players involved,” said Flower of what he said was a “sensational game”.

“But that's why our guys work so hard on their fitness and they are mentally resilient -- they have shown that.

“Over a number of our Test campaigns (they have) come out on top because of that resilience and I expect them to show that at Lord's in the second Test.”As well as praising Alastair Cook's “strength and calmness as a captain”, Flower also highlighted the contributions of Anderson and Ian Bell, whose second innings 109 was the only century of the match, to England's victory. “Jimmy Anderson, particularly, again showed his skill and class,” he said.