Ahead of Friday's finale, Stephen Brenkley, in the Independent, looks back on a troubled tour to identify the lessons England – and all cricket fans – can take into the blockbuster summer ahead.
Strauss and Flower make a dynamic duo From day one, when he took over in circumstances in which he had no desire to take over, Andy Flower has cut an impressive figure. England have gone through a tumultuous period of late and it has been difficult for players and staff. Flower has developed a strong relationship with Andrew Strauss, who himself demonstrated that he might (perhaps should) have been captain two years ago. They brought to their roles a well-rounded but hard-nosed aspect. They showed they were unafraid to take tough decisions – for instance, the dropping of Ian Bell and Monty Panesar, two players who still have big futures – and they have stamped their authority on the England squad.
If West Indies boycott the fifth one-day international on Friday – a remote but possible eventuality – the procedure will differ from the Oval Test of 2006 when Pakistan forfeited the match to England, writes Scyld Berry in the Telegraph.
On the morning of Srinath's first game, in Sri Lanka, the umpire Mark Benson pulled out and flew back to London, so he is used to thinking on his feet. On Friday he has to consult with the umpires and ascertain that one side is refusing to play before awarding the match to the other. Under ICC's new regulations, Srinath could also initiate disciplinary action against Chris Gayle and his players, which makes a boycott even less likely, as they would end up in front of a legal committee headed by a judge.
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