Flower: Vince pushing hard for Test selection

Andy Flower, coach of England Lions and in charge of the country's Performance Programme, thinks James Vince is ready to be selected for the Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan this summer.
The 25-year-old Vince has played in one ODI and four T20Is, and was part of England's squad at the World T20, but is yet to make his debut in the longest format of game.
The England selectors have tough calls to make regarding the composition of their bating order with opener Alex Hales and number three Nick Compton in danger of being dropped while the retirement of James Taylor has opened up a vacancy at number five.
A former Zimbabwe international batsman who averaged more than 50 in 63 Tests, Flower believes the being the captain of Hampshire has helped Vince with his batting.
Flower said: "He has learnt a lot about himself over the last few years. I'd be surprised if he's not pushing hard for selection for that first Test. Tactically he's very astute and very calm.
"His players like playing for him and he communicated very well with his bowlers. I think he's really started to enjoy the responsibility of captaincy and that's been great to see.
"That's very much part of our job, to give them these experiences."
The right-handed Vince does not have the best first-class average – 41.29 after 108 games – having made his debut for Hampshire in 2009, but former England captain Michael Vaughan feels Vince should be selected.
Vaughan himself was selected for England when he only had a first-class average of 37 but went to have a successful 82-Test career retiring with an average of 41.44, including 18 centuries.
The now 41-year-old Vaughan said: "You have to try to move the team on with better players and I think Vince is the better player.
"He's played well for Hampshire for many years. He's got the right style of game that might even go to another level when he plays Test cricket."
England's first of three Tests at home against Sri Lanka starts at Headingley on 19 May.
Latest
-
News
Joe Root backs Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley to adjust to Asian conditions
Sibley and Crawley contributed four single-figure scores in the opening Test for a total of 25 runs.
-
News
England fast bowler Olly Stone ready to resume Test ambitions in Sri Lanka
The Warwickshire quick is ready to prove himself again after 18 hard months since his debut.
-
News
Angelo Mathews: Sri Lanka batsmen ‘can learn a lot’ from Joe Root
Mathews hailed Root’s ‘magnificent innings’ in the first Test.
-
News
Dawid Malan happy to stay put after Trent Rockets’ show of faith
The England batsman has earned an improved deal in The Hundred.
-
News
England coach Chris Silverwood grateful for gift of the Gabba
India’s famous win over Australia grabbed the England squad’s attention in Galle.
-
News
A look at unbeaten sporting runs following end of Australia’s Gabba dominance
Australia had not been beaten at the Gabba since 1988.
-
News
Justin Langer: Rishabh Pant’s innings reminded me of Ben Stokes at Headingley
India’s Shubman Gill and Pant inspired a record-breaking victory over Australia at the Gabba.
-
News
Tim Paine: India deserves winners, outplayed Australia
Australia captain Tim Paine has conceded that his side were outplayed in key moments of the series and that India were deserved winners.
-
News
Rishabh Pant reflects on ‘dream series’ after India stun Australia at the Gabba
India’s Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant inspired a record-breaking victory at the Gabba.
-
News
India move to the top of ICC rankings
After beating Australia by three wickets in the fourth Test on Tuesday, India moved to the number spot on the ICC World Test Championship.