FLOWER POWER FIRES ROCKETS

THE incongruous sight of Andy Flower standing next to Kevin Pietersen during Sky interviews after the Hundred final was a reminder both of the acrimonious end to his spell as England coach, and the way he has reinvented himself in franchise cricket. Flower, a three-times Ashes winner with England, added another trophy with the best example yet of his growing acumen in short-form cricket as Trent Rockets won a close Hundred final against Manchester Originals.

And Flower, who fell out with Pietersen during the 2013-14 Ashes thrashing that would signal the end for both of them, has clearly changed what were perceived as disciplinary methods. ‘He’s chilled out in his old age,’ said Rockets captain Lewis Gregory, who clinched a low-scoring final for his side when he hit the 11 needed off the last set of five with two wickets in hand. ‘You guys got him when he was a taskmaster,’ added Gregory, aiming his comments at Pietersen and Eoin Morgan. Sam Cook, player of the final after taking four for 18 as Manchester reached 120 for nine, said: ‘Andy has become a bit of a comedian. He’s had the boys laughing a lot. He doesn’t say much but when he speaks, you listen.’

The second edition of the Hundred ended on Saturday with thrilling scenes at Lord’s and a crowd of more than 20,000 for the women’s final alone, won again by Oval Invincibles.