The importance of Andy Flower to Essex can be truly appreciated only now he has gone. Although the county were never a one-man team, Essex without Flower are like Doctor Who without his assistant, Blackpool without a pier or Eurovision without Wogan. They seem to be missing something. Suddenly the season looks as if it could be a long one. While the bowling was always a problem, the batting, too, is wobbling. Minus Flower the top six is made up of
rookies and Ronnie Irani. But no one is blaming Flower. He is 39 and was offered a wonderful position as England�..s assistant coach.

�..I�..ll miss the Essex dressing room,�.� he says. �..It has a great atmosphere and everyone�..s pulling for each other. So of course I was a little sad to leave. Everyone at Essex gave me a great opportunity to play county cricket and I learnt so much from guys like Graham Gooch and Ronnie Irani. I always felt I was still learning at Essex and hopefully I gave a lot back.�.�

He did not just bring experience; he brought a mountain of runs. In five seasons he scored 6,215 first-class runs at 54, just above his overall average. �..I think the young batsmen have all got great futures,�.� he says. �..I wouldn�..t be surprised to see some of them in the England dressing room soon.�.�
Daniel Brigham, The Wisden Cricketer