31 Dec 2013

Swann shouldn't have quit tour, says Flower

11:43 am on 31 December 2013

The England cricket coach Andy Flower says spinner Graeme Swan shouldn't have left the current Ashes tour of Australia.

While initially complimentary of Swann, who shocked the cricket world with his retirement after England lost the Ashes with their defeat in the third test in Perth earlier this month, Flower says he should've hung around.

Flower says he would have liked Swann to have seen the tour out..

As for himself, Flower says he wants to continue contributing to English cricket and will meet with his boss later this week to discuss his future.

Also he says he fully supports captain Alastair Cook who has come for criticism for his leadership in the fourth test loss in Melbourne.

Flower says he expects England to make one or perhaps two changes for the final test starting in Sydney on Friday.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar's one-wicket performance in Melbourne leaves England with a concern over their bowling attack, with uncapped leggie Scott Borthwick under consideration for Sydney.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Jonny Bairstow may also be facing the axe.