Flower warns failing batsmen
January 29, 2012 12:06:03 UK
Andrew Strauss' England side have failed with the bat against Pakistan.Team director Andy Flower has warned that England need to learn lessons quickly after suffering a humiliating Test series defeat to Pakistan.
England collapsed to 72 all out to lose the second Test by 72 runs, falling 2-0 behind in the three-match series after losing the first game by a 10-wicket margin.
These issues are not going to disappear. We have got to face them front on.
Andy Flower
That has prompted Flower to warn that places are under threat, with England's batting having failed to fire against the twin spin threat of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman.
Flower told BBC Sport: "We have another Test match here and then the one-dayers and a couple of Twenty20s. Then we have Test series against Sri Lanka and India before the year is up.
"These issues are not going to disappear. We have got to face them front on and we have got to face them with skill and a bit of courage.
"It's very important for us to go into this third Test match and do something about it. One of our jobs is to learn quickly.
"We have world-class batsmen in our side, but they need to adapt very quickly and we are going to get another opportunity in the third Test."
No England batsman has registered a century in either of the two Tests, while Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan have all failed to pass 50.
Ravi Bopara is the only recognised batting cover in the England squad, with the tourists 2.87 to win the third Test which starts on Friday, with the draw 3.25 and Pakistan 2.50 to complete a series whitewash.
Don't forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.
View all Cricket betting