Flower aims for top spot after committing to England cricket

England have been handed a boost ahead of their Test series’ against Sri Lanka and India this summer after the ECB announced that Andy Flower has renewed his contract and will remain in his role as team director.

The Cape Town-born former wicket-keeper has played a major part in England’s revival since taking over in 2009, leading the team to two Ashes victories, including their first in Australia for 24 years, as well as the World Twenty20 trophy for the first time in their history last year.

“The ECB today announced that Andy Flower has renewed his contract and will continue in his current role as England team director,” read an ECB statement on Tuesday morning.

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“Flower will remain on a permanent contract and is currently preparing for an international summer that sees England face Sri Lanka, India and Ireland.”

Flower, who was captain of Zimbabwe in his playing days, started as an assistant coach with England in May 2007, before eventually becoming team director on a permanent basis in April 2009.

Under the 43-year-old’s guidance, England have risen to third in the ICC Test rankings and fifth in the one-day standings, despite only managing to reach the quarter-final stage of the World Cup in March.

Despite being linked with a possible move to coach current ODI World Champions and Test cricket’s No 1 side India - a role now filled by former England coach Duncan Fletcher - Flower insisted that he was happy to carry on with England.

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He said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to build on the considerable progress we have made to date as a squad and remain fully committed to developing the side and ensuring we are in a position to realise our objective of becoming the No 1 side in the world.

“When I was appointed England team director in 2009 I stated that I wanted to create a winning England team and I am very pleased with the advances we have made as a squad over the last two years in all formats of the game.

“Regaining the Ashes in 2009 and retaining them last winter and the 2010 World Twenty20 title are obvious highlights, but there is still plenty more we want to achieve in the longer term.

“We have made no secret of our determination to become the No 1 side in the world and challenge for global titles and I feel we have been making steady progress.

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“I firmly believe we have the talent amongst the playing squad and management team to help us realise our ambitions and am looking forward to testing ourselves against quality opposition this summer and beyond.”

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