England’s Flower hits back at Aussie moaning

ENGLAND coach Andy Flower feels Australia captain Ricky Ponting “made a meal” of perceived stalling tactics during the final afternoon of the first Ashes Test.

Ponting was left less than impressed by England’s decision to send on 12th man Bilal Shafayat twice in the closing stages at Cardiff, as well as physio Steve McCaig, describing the approach as “pretty ordinary”.

Flower, however, defended England’s position, claiming the incidents were all about communication with the batsmen, rather than any deliberate ploy or ungentlemanly conduct.