But we found out twenty or more years ago that picking useful bits and pieces players ( Capel/Pringle/Irani/Ealham...I won't go on , too depressing ) is not the route to Test Match success
Half of that is bad selection though, not the players concerned. Ronnie Irani scored over fifty runs exactly 100 times in his career, and maintained an average that was on par with Hussain and Atherton. Yet he was flung in at 7 where he wasnt given a role to score runs properly, yet his batting record also meant that they didnt throw the ball to him much to make an impact... a guy that averages 42 with bat and under 30 with the ball should be given more than two tests to prove himself... much more!!
Ealham was the same. He bowled very creditably in the 1997 Ashes when given a chance, but got dropped simply because he wasnt contributing to the batting line up... he batted at 8 though with a very poor tail, so what he was exactly supposed to do with Robert Croft and Devon Malcolm in tow I dont know.
A bits and pieces player has to have a defined role, ie NOT BE a P&B PLAYER! Flintoff was successful because he matured into a proper new ball wicket threat, and even if his batting disintergrated to nothing, he would have been picked as a bowler.
A great example is also Shaun Pollock. If South Africa had done what England would have been tempted to do he would have batted at six and played a supporting role with the ball..... yet they were happy to define him as a new ball bowler and take the fact that his batting would probably suffer, and to a certain extent it did... he never became a mean batter, just added valuable contributions occasionally while becoming a world class bowler. A few South Africans still hark at what his batting could have been..... he was seen as a direct replacement to both grandfather and dad, ie could lead the attack and the batting line up, but thankfully he chose the one he felt he was more naturally suited to.
Another example is Paul Reiffel, who represents the last pick before a huge gap between him and Shane Watson for a regular all rounder slot..... Reiffel could form the basis of a 4 man specialist attack, his batting was a bonus..... I guess this is why Brendan Julian's chances were snuffed out even though as youngsters Julian was considered the better talent especially with bat.
This is why I dont mind Broad's batting not developing... England have been clear they wanted him as a new ball bowler, and that is how he has developed. Cant fault Flower on that.