Flower identified Jonathan Trott’s

HARD WORK

Flower identified Jonathan Trott’s contribution in the innings win in Melbourne as an example of the improvements made in England’s conditioning and fielding.

Trott had made 46 when he dived full length to avoid a runout. He went on to score 168 and was still alert enough to run out Phil Hughes when Australia batted.

“Those on the inside know that Trott has worked incredibly hard at his fitness and fielding this past year and, when it comes together, that is an example of something that makes me proud as a coach,” said Flower.

Flower inherited his job in the most unpromising of circumstances after former head coach Peter Moores and captain Kevin Pietersen were sacked before the tour of West Indies early in 2009.

He took from over from Moores while Strauss replaced Pietersen and the pair quickly established a close rapport after an awful start when England were dismissed for 51 in the first Test.

England lost that series but with Strauss leading from the front as opening batsman and leader they won the Ashes back in the same year.

Flower had shown his skill as a player when he was briefly the world number one batsman while playing for lowly Zimbabwe, and his character as a man when he protested against Robert Mugabe’s regime at the 2003 World Cup.

Now he has proven an equally effective coach.

“He looks at every aspect of the team’s performance, at what things we could do to make it 2% better,” said batting coach Graham Gooch.

NO GENTLE GIANT

Stuart Broad’s premature exit through injury gave Chris Tremlett the chance to show he was more than a gentle giant and he grabbed his chance in Perth, bowling with bounce and aggression.

He will now be hard to dislodge as Anderson’s new ball partner.

Similarly, Tim Bresnan fully vindicated his selection in Melbourne ahead of Steven Finn, who had taken the most wickets for England in the first three Tests but who had also leaked runs and was showing signs of strain on his still maturing body.

Their success meant the world’s number one spinner Graeme Swann did not need to play as influential a role as expected, although he still managed a five-wicket haul in the second innings in Adelaide.

Duncan Fletcher, coach of the England side who defeated Australia in the unforgettable 2005 series, said the current England bowling unit was as good as his.

“The performances of Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan show it has more depth,” he added.

Unlike the 2005 side who possibly celebrated too long and too hard, Strauss’s men will remain grounded with a World Cup imminent.

Flower said the team who regained the Ashes in 2009 after the 5-0 humiliation in Australia two years earlier had been encouraged to keep their feet on the ground.

“I think they have done so,” he said. “I definitely think we have what it takes to get to the top. England have not been number one before. We want to get there and we are heading in the right direction.”