Having guided England to Ashes victories, home and away, as well as to the number one Test ranking, Andy Flower is no stranger to cricket on these shores.

However, in recent years, and in keeping with the ever-evolving global game, the former Zimbabwean captain has been taking in the delights of the Caribbean, India and Abu Dhabi to name a few.

“I’ve been doing franchise cricket for a couple of years and I wasn’t sure how I was going to take to it but I’ve really enjoyed it,” said the Trent Rockets Head Coach.

“One of the best aspects of it is the diversity of people that you meet and the different cultures that you experience.

“You meet some brilliant people and create some new friendships.

“The cricket presents a different challenge, as you’ve got to bring the team together fairly quickly and achieve results straight away.”

That is the position Flower finds himself in now, in leading a Trent Rockets side preparing for the inaugural edition of The Hundred, after Stephen Fleming stepped back from the role as supremo of the men's side earlier this year.

“The job of a coach doesn’t change drastically; it’s still about leadership and trying to get the most out of your players,” said Flower.

“You would love to impart your knowledge on players and see them improve in your time together but there is less time available to do that.

“It presents a different challenge from my experiences with the England set up where you’re looking for medium to long-term development of players.”

The players for his latest coaching assignment include the likes of overseas stars Rashid Khan and D’Arcy Short and local stalwarts in the shape of Alex Hales, Steven Mullaney and Samit Patel.

And with the fast-paced nature of the tournament, it’s the local knowledge of Trent Bridge that Flower is eager to tap into.

“The venues we’re going to see in The Hundred are all going to have their own specific requirements to adapt to, and the teams that do that will have the edge in the competition,” said Flower.

“Having someone like Alex Hales up front, with his knowledge and familiarity with the conditions, will be an important factor.

“I have always loved my time at Trent Bridge and we’ve got a healthy sprinkling of Notts players in the squad whose knowledge will come in handy.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to is itching to get going and I think there’ll be some really exciting focus on it.”

*******

Secure your seats for Trent Rockets' games in The Hundred here...