14 Wednesday 20th April, 2011

A member of the Woods fami- ly has hit top form, and won a Flower gets new contract to tournament by seven shots with a flawless final round. But it was not Tiger fend off interest from India Woods, The Sydney Morning secure, but could include clauses Herald reported to protect the ECB from losing in a story date- Flower to a third party and give lined April 20, the coach wider ranging powers. 2011. It would also lead him through Tiger's niece the next two Ashes series, but not Cheyenne, 20, the 2015 World Cup. has won the The ECB will be confident it Athletic Coastal can keep its man, partly because Conference of the demands of the India job. (ACC) Kirsten was allowed to commute Championship, Cheyenne Woods from Cape Town to India but even if Flower were given the same freedom he would still be away A Woods wins - but from home for longer spells than he is at the moment. He would also have to endure it's not Tiger the intense media scrutiny, the politics of Indian cricket and a prestigious amateur col- brother Earl Woods jnr. would not have anywhere near lege tournament, finishing The ACC is one of many the same amount of power with the three round event at college conferences in the his employee. In India players five-under, seven shots clear United States, but the ease and administrators wield the of her nearest rival. She of the win signposts influence. Coaches do not. shot a bogey-free, three- Cheyenne's promise. Flower is a respected figure in under 68 to ensure her victo- Prior to the tournament, English cricket and ECB sources ry, after starting her final Cheyenne was ranked no.38 have indicated they are confident round with a share of the in the women's college golf he will be honest and open about lead. rankings. his future. He has given no indi- Tiger's reponse? Several years ago, ESPN cation of being unsettled and has "My niece, Cheyenne, mused that she may be too BY NICK HOULT Flower’s future before then. He is England future that “personally I talked about the long-term plan just won the ACC golf title laid back to succeed. But it on holiday but sources at the don’t look much further forward of becoming the best team in the by 7 shots! That's awesome, appears she is finding her ndy Flower has been ECB have indicated they expect than a few months”. world. I'm so proud of her," he killer instinct, and a promis- offered a new three-year him to commit to a new deal Flower, who has a young fami- For the players, losing Flower tweeted soon after. ing future awaits another Acontract as the England when he returns to work. ly, knows the difficulties of bal- would be a huge blow at a time Cheyenne is the daugh- acolyte from the Earl Woods and Wales Cricket Board The ECB will not want to take ancing his job, which involves when they are looking to build on ter of Tiger's estranged half- golf factory. attempts to head off any moves any chances after being heavily many months away, with home their Ashes success. for their highly rated coach from criticised for not doing enough to life. He had an exhausting winter, “I can’t sing his praises high- India. retain Troy Cooley, the bowling taking just a handful of days off, ly enough,” said wicketkeeper Telegraph Sport understands coach, before he opted to take up two of which were after he was Matt Prior. “He has been fantas- Flower is due to meet Hugh an identical position with the diagnosed with skin cancer dur- tic. The main thing I love about Pietersen insists he Morris, the managing director of Australian team. ing the first Ashes Test. Andy is he is honest. He is a good the England team, at the end of Duncan Fletcher, one of Flower became increasingly human being. There are no poli- will be fit for first Test the month to discuss his long- Flower’s predecessors, is also on frustrated with England’s sched- tics. He just wants to win. Any term future and the direction of the BCCI’s list following a recom- ule last winter and the toll it took decision he makes is because he against Sri Lanka the England set-up. It is thought mendation by Kirsten but Flower on his squad. One of his demands thinks it gives England the best that Flower is on a rolling staff is the No 1 choice. during his talks with the ECB is chance of winning. BY NICK HOULT contract which offers the same After two Ashes series wins, a likely to include having more say “There is nothing else to him. protection rights as any other World Twenty20 title and oversee- in the length of overseas tours. That is really important. The full-time employee. ing, along with Andrew Morris is conducting a review other thing is he backs his play- said on Monday that Sources in India have indicat- Strauss, a revival in England’s of England’s winter. Flower is ers 100 per cent. To walk out on he expected to be fit ed that Flower is on a shortlist to fortunes to the point where they clearly in a strong position to the pitch knowing your coach is for the first Test replace coach , who have a realistic chance of becom- influence changes which could backing you and giving you that against Sri Lanka on left after the World Cup final. ing the No 1 ranked team in Test include his own contractual deal. support and responsibility to May 26 after recover- India are likely to appoint an cricket, Flower has become one His current contract is under- know and trust your game is ing from hernia sur- interim coach before making a of the most highly regarded stood to be, similar to the one huge.” gery. long-term appointment. They will coaches in world cricket. Fletcher signed, . Pietersen was one tour England later this summer At the end of series A fixed-term, three-year deal © The Telegraph Group, of England’s many and the ECB will want to clear up Flower would only say about his would on the surface look less London, 2011 injury casualties dur- ing the World Cup, leaving after the win West Indies batting legend, the Haynes will work in collabora- against South Africa ever smiling Desmond Haynes has tion with head coach Ottis Gibson, to have a long-term been appointed batting consultant Haynes who was appointed last year and problem corrected. to the West Indies team for this said he was looking forward to the He is still recu- Kevin Pietersen year's home series. appointed partnership. perating from sur- The 55-year-old, who played 116 "I am happy to be part of the gery but could make a gentle bly in the middle of May and Tests and 228 One-Day team management unit, headed by return to cricket for Surrey, try and get ready to prove Internationals during a 16-year Ottis and I believe I can also help Windies his new county, when they my fitness for the first Test career, was a part of the West the players with the mental aspect play Cambridge MCCU at match.” Indies training camp in Barbados of their game and the way they go Fenner’s in a three-day game Pietersen’s team-mate, last week and has travelled to St. batting about their cricket in general," he Lucia with the squad for the first said. starting on May 11. , also left the two ODIs against Pakistan starting "This is a chance to make a “I’ve not had a break like World Cup early after suffer- this weekend, The Trinidad & consultant contribution and I'm pleased to be this for seven years playing ing a broken rib. Tobago Express reported on its given the opportunity to be for England,” he said. “It’s He is hoping to feature website. involved in West Indies cricket something I’ve really for Nottinghamshire before "I have always said I wanted to once more." enjoyed. But I’m rehabbing the Sri Lanka series. “I be involved in West Indies cricket During an illustrious career, three, four, five times a week should get in a couple of and help in any way I could," Haynes made a name as a tough- trying to get things right, games, which will help with Haynes was quoted as having said. nosed, unflappable batsman as he just making sure I get myself my match fitness,” he said. "This is a chance to help the carved out 7,487 runs in Tests and right, get myself strong, get “It is going to be a huge sum- young players with their develop- 8,648 runs in ODIs. Desmond Haynes myself fit. mer for us with India and Sri ment. I just want to see the players He joins former West Indies Windies batsmen for the five ODIs In announcing Haynes' “I haven’t picked up a Lanka coming over. We have get better as we aim for improve- captain Richie Richardson, anoth- and two Tests against Pakistan appointment, the West Indies cricket bat of late, I haven’t a chance to become world No ment at all levels in West Indies er player from the halcyon era, and will continue for the series Cricket Board said, however, that even seen a cricket bat 1.” cricket and get the team back to who was named West Indies man- against India, which comprises it would "commence the search for except on TV watching the © The Telegraph Group, the halcyon days,” he added. ager in January. five ODIs and three Tests, starting a full-time batting coach," follow- Haynes will work with the (Russ) IPL. I’ll start playing proba- London, 2011 in June. ing the end of the home series. Magic's Howard wins 3rd straight defensive award ORLANDO, Florida (AP) — mates, being active, talking with them. it's very tough to play defence." Dwight Howard has another piece of It definitely is an honour to be consid- Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, who hardware for his personal trophy case. ered one of the best defensive players has made repeated cases for Howard's The Orlando Magic centre became to play the game. MVP candidacy, said the defensive hon- the first player to win the NBA "I'm still young so hopefully I can our is a no-brainer. Defensive Player of the Year Award keep it up." "It's not what he does well, it's that three straight seasons Monday — and The 6-foot-11 Howard ranked second he does everything well," Van Gundy the voting wasn't close. in the NBA at 14.1 rebounds per game said. "He really doesn't have a weak- Howard received 585 points, includ- and fourth in blocks with 2.38. He also ness on the defensive end of the floor ing 114 first-place votes, from a panel was the defensive anchor of a team at all. He can guard his guy in the post of 120 sports writers and broadcasters. that was ranked fourth in the regular very well. He's an outstanding pick and Boston's Kevin Garnett finished second season, giving up 93.7 points per game roll defender. Great on rotations and with 77 points and Dallas' Tyson to opponents. schemes. The one thing that's probably Chandler was third with 70. Howard said there is no secret to under appreciated about him is that Only Dikembe Mutombo and Ben what it takes to succeed on the defen- he's the smartest big guy I've ever been Wallace, with four each, have now won sive end of the floor. around." the award more times. "It takes a lot of heart. You've got to Teammate and best friend Jameer "I try to do the best I can on the want to stop people, want to stop Nelson called Howard's knowledge of defensive end. To dominate, change the teams," Howard said. "There are going the game and preparation "excellent." game," Howard said at a press confer- to be times when you don't have any "People take it for granted," Nelson ence at the Magic's team facility. energy ... There's been times on the said. "You just don't block shots and do Orlando Magic centre Dwight Howard speaks with media at a news conference after "That's not blocking shots but just court for me I've had cramps. I never all the things he does defensively not he was presented with the 2010-11 NBA defensive basketball player of the year being a presence on the defensive end. said anything. But I had to do what I knowing personnel and not preparing award in Orlando, Fla., Monday, April 18, 2011. Howard, with his three awards, is the Making sure I'm here for my team- had to do to help my teammates win so the way he does." first player to win the award in three straight seasons. (AP Photo/John Raoux)