Fact File

• Full Name: Andrew Flower
• Born: April 28, 1968, Cape Town, South Africa
• International Teams: Zimbabwe (1992–2003)
• New Role: Head Coach, London Spirit men’s team

Early Life and Zimbabwe Career

Andy Flower was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1968 but went on to become one of Zimbabwe’s greatest ever cricketers. Alongside his brother Grant, he made his Test debut in 1992 in Zimbabwe’s first ever Test, against India in Harare. During an international career which lasted over a decade, Flower played 63 Tests and 213 One-Day Internationals, scoring more than 11,500 runs across the two formats. He had two spells as captain, famously leading Zimbabwe to their first ever Test match victory, against Pakistan. Known for his technical class and mental resilience, Flower established himself as one of the finest wicketkeeper-batters of his era.

Move to England and Coaching Beginnings

After retiring from international cricket, Flower joined Essex, along with his brother Grant, to play county cricket. His natural leadership qualities soon saw him move into coaching once he ended his playing career. In 2007, he became England’s Assistant Coach, taking his first steps into what would become a hugely successful second career in the game.

Glory with England

In 2009, Flower was appointed Head Coach of the England men’s team. His impact was immediate: England regained the Ashes that summer, defeating Australia 2–1, a series which included a memorable 115-run victory at Lord’s. The following year, Flower led England to their first ever ICC global trophy, the 2010 ICC World T20 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

In the winter of 2010/11, his side completed a historic Ashes triumph in Australia — their first Down Under in nearly 25 years. That success propelled England to the top of the ICC Test rankings in 2011. His team’s dominance continued on home soil, where he made it a hat-trick of Ashes victories in 2013. Wins at Trent Bridge, the Riverside, and a resounding 347-run victory at Lord’s confirmed his status as one of England’s most successful Test match coaches.

Global Coaching and T20 Success

After stepping down from the England role in 2014, Flower became Technical Director of Elite Coaching at the ECB, shaping the international players of the future with England Lions. He then broadened his horizons, taking roles in some of the world’s biggest T20 competitions. Flower worked in the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and Indian Premier League, building a reputation as a tactical and adaptive coach. In The Hundred, he took charge of Trent Rockets and guided them to the men’s title in 2022, fittingly at Lord’s.

Recent Success – IPL Champion

In 2023, Flower was appointed Head Coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. Two years later, he made history by leading the franchise to their first-ever IPL title. He worked alongside Director of Cricket Mo Bobat, a partnership that will now be rekindled at London Spirit.

What Andy Flower Brings to London Spirit

Flower’s arrival marks a new era for London Spirit. With his proven ability to win trophies at the highest level and his reputation for building strong, high-performance cultures makes this one of the most significant coaching appointments in the competition so far.

Andy Flower’s Career Highlights

• Over 11,500 international runs for Zimbabwe
• Head Coach of England (2009–2014)
  • Three consecutive Ashes series wins (2009, 2010/11, 2013)
  • ICC World T20 champions (2010)
  • Guided England to No.1 in ICC Test rankings (2011)
• Head Coach of Trent Rockets, The Hundred champions (2022)
• Head Coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, IPL champions (2025)