| nd’s assistant coach Andy Flower has | | | | any tour but we have to deal with that. |
| refused to blame outside distractions for the | | | | "As far as our second innings goes, I don't think it |
| embarrassing defeat by the West Indies in the first | | | | had anything to do with it. It is all of our jobs to do |
| cricket Test in Jamaica. | | | | something about this now and if we don't we will be |
| England were humbled inside four days after they | | | | out of here." |
| were shot out for just 51, their lowest total in Test | | | | England will have an early opportunity to recover |
| history, by a West Indies side they were supposed | | | | from the Sabina Park debacle as the second test |
| to dominate. | | | | begins in Antigua on Friday and Flower said that he |
| The defeat completed a wretched five weeks for | | | | expected to see a positive reaction. |
| England following the axing of head coach Peter | | | | "The group we have got work very well together," |
| Moores and ‘resignation’ of captain | | | | insisted Flower. "If you get 25 people in an office you |
| Kevin Pietersen because of personal differences. | | | | are going to have the odd ruction. |
| The defeat also came the day after Pietersen and | | | | "The same goes in a sports team. As far as there |
| star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, both former users of | | | | being disunity in the camp, it's simply not true. |
| Woodworm cricket bats, were auctioned off for | | | | "We had a brief chat in the changing room |
| Pound 1.1 million each to play in this year’s | | | | afterwards, not so much hard words. |
| Indian Premier League tournament. | | | | "There is a time in which we need to reflect on |
| England certainly played like a side whose thoughts | | | | what's happened. |
| were elsewhere as they collapsed against paceman | | | | "And also for the learning of the players and the |
| Jerome Taylor and rookie left-arm spinner Sulieman | | | | coaching staff, it is a good reflection time. Players |
| Benn as former Zimbabwe batsman Flower | | | | have been talking amongst themselves today and |
| conceded. | | | | there is a lot of hurt and a lot of learning which go |
| "There might be an element of truth in that but in | | | | together. |
| the end sportsmen have to deal with the challenge | | | | "Playing for your country is a very proud moment for |
| we're given," said Flower, following the innings and | | | | anyone, they are not only playing for themselves, |
| 23-run defeat at Sabina Park. | | | | their career and a team, they are playing for the |
| "And we have been given the challenge of a | | | | people that came out here to watch them. |
| four-Test tour in West Indies. We failed the test in | | | | "So to have a performance like that, where they |
| the first Test but there are three Tests left and we | | | | subsided, was very disappointing. |
| can do something about it. | | | | "The important thing is we become stronger from it. |
| "It is going to be really difficult to come back from | | | | We have got to think that way. |
| one down but we have done it before and we have | | | | "It has happened, it was horrible and we have to |
| to play great cricket. | | | | look forward. |
| "What happened before was not ideal preparation for | | | | |