The odd couple are making it work

Posted on 16/05/2010

Paul Collingwood and Andy Flower are an unlikely heroic double act, but they have driven the England team forward beyond all recognition, says Steve James Sunday Telegraph.

Petals and the Weed, a strange combination to be sure. Not ideal really, as any good gardener will testify. But today Andy Flower (with not the most imaginative nickname, granted) and Paul Collingwood (whose team-mates, especially the muscular Kevin Pietersen, playfully reckon him not to be the strongest hitter in the game) stand on the brink of leading England to their first-ever global one-day trophy.

Less than two years ago the odds on that would not so much have been long as to be of the sort offered to the deluded father who thinks his three-year-old can play football for England.

''Don't be silly, but 10,000-1 anyway''. It was that far-fetched. Collingwood had recognised he was no Mike Brearley, resigning the one-day captaincy, apparently in rather a huff with coach Peter Moores. And Flower, as Moores' assistant in an increasingly joyless regime, was already being tarred with the brush that eventually did for Moores.

But, somehow, this is how the wheel has turned. Flower has become an astute and authoritative leader.
Persuasive, too, in coaxing a most reluctant Collingwood to retake the reins. And Collingwood has improved. He is clearly still no tactical genius and in this tournament he has had a stinker with the bat (an average of precisely 8.16). Win today and history will not record such technicalities.

In any case, do not be surprised if Collingwood produces a match-winning innings later this afternoon. He quite likes visiting his personal pit of despair before leaping out spectacularly. Just think of his place-saving Edgbaston Test century in 2008.

Chelsea keep FA Cup tradition alive

Chelsea’s atttitude to the FA Cup makes them worthy double winners, says Gary Lineker in The Mail on Sunday.

Most people were rooting for the underdogs of Portsmouth at Wembley yesterday, but I was delighted that Chelsea won the FA Cup again.

For all the foreign influence at Stamford Bridge over recent years, they are the one big club who have always respected the tradition and history of the competition and for that reason fully deserve the Double.

Even in the early rounds of the FA Cup, the big names from Chelsea are always on the teamsheet - and you can't always say that about their biggest rivals.

Chelsea's third-round tie at Preston in January could have provided an excuse for some to take the day off. But not Frank Lampard, John Terry, Michael Ballack and Nicolas Anelka.

How ironic that a club managed by Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and now Carlo Ancelotti should remind us all of what a great competition the FA Cup is!

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United use it as an opportunity to rest their better, more experienced players. Chelsea don't and it was worked for them because winning is a habit.
Chelsea were worthy winners yesterday, although Portsmouth deserve a great deal of credit in what could be their last big match for a long time.