Online Reporter
Sports Reporter
ANDY Flower turned 58 yesterday.
The former Chevrons captain is widely considered one of the best cricketers to emerge from this country.
He has since transformed himself into one of the elite coaches in the world.
Cricket fans around the world have been marking Andy’s birthday by celebrating some of his best moments.
These include:
A Test average of 51.54 as a keeper-bat?
Domestic & First-Class Stats
First-Class: 16,379 runs in 223 matches at an average of 54.05, including 49 centuries and 75 half-centuries.
List A: 12,511 runs in 380 matches at an average of 38.97.
T20s: 595 runs in 21 matches with a strike rate of 123.70 (primarily for Essex).
Wicket-Keeping Records
Test Dismissals: 160 (151 catches, 9 stumpings)
ODI Dismissals: 173 (141 catches, 32 stumpings)
The Benchmark: He remains the only wicket-keeper in Test history to retire with a career batting average above 50.
Coaching Stats (Major Titles)
England: 3 Ashes Series Wins (2009, 2010/11, 2013).
T20 World Cup: 1 Title (England, 2010).
IPL: 1 Title (Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 2025).
The Hundred: 1 Title (Trent Rockets, 2022).
ILT20: 1 Title (Gulf Giants, 2023).
Career Highlights
The World’s Best: Reached the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test Batting Rankings in late 2001.
Wicket-Keeping Royalty: He holds the record for the highest Test score by a wicket-keeper (232^*) and is the only keeper-batsman to retire with a career Test average over 50.
Coaching Greatness: Transitioned into a legendary coach, leading England to three Ashes series wins, their first-ever ICC trophy (2010 World T20), and the No. 1 Test ranking in 2011. Most recently, he coached Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their historic first IPL title in 2025.
Major Awards & Honours
ICC Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2021 (the first Zimbabwean to receive the honor).
OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire): Awarded in 2011 for services to sport.
Wisden Cricketer of the Year: Named in 2002.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year: Won Coach of the Year in 2011.
Bongani Ndlovu