England's blooming Flower

The England team is in the middle of a rare two-month break from the international scene ahead of a hectic two years of action that begins in the UAE against Pakistan from January. Andy Flower, their team director, needed the break as much as anyone but is so focussed on his role that he is always planning for the next challenge.

He is also happy to put something back into the game and Paul Newman, of the Daily Mail, caught up with Flower during a coaching clinic in London for a wide-ranging chat which included the 5-0 whitewash in India, player autobiographies, the team's behaviour and his future.

"The Swann book wasn't ideal. If we can avoid situations like that they're best avoided because we pretty much live together for a large chunk of the year. For instance in 2012 we are going to be away from our own homes for 240-plus nights. When you are living together like that as a group you're not going to agree on everything but there needs to be a degree of harmony and honesty.

'That situation arose and I think it was dealt with efficiently and maturely by both guys, especially Kevin Pietersen. He conducted himself well through a tricky situation. I know it sounds a little silly but I was proud of him."