Andy Flower wins coach of the year

23/12/2011

England cricket coach Andy Flower was named Coach of the Year in the BBC Sports Review of the Year last night (December 22nd).

The man who steered the Test team to Ashes victory and the top of the world rankings after a 4-0 whitewashing of India gained the prize ahead of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland.

It follows the former Zimbabwe star's triumphant night at last month's 2011 UK Coaching Awards, when he was voted Coach of the Year and High-Performance Coach.

And while neither Andrew Strauss or Alastair Cook picked up the individual award for Personality of the year, there was further reason for cricketing celebration as Flower's men won Team of the Year.

Fans keen to see the all-conquering England team in action next summer may wish to enjoy hospitality packages at Headingley for the Test against South Africa.

Andy Flower's success followed a playing career in which he averaged over 50 with the bat in Test matches and famously carried out a black armband protest against the abuses of the Mugabe regime alongside Henry Olonga.

By Keith Prowse