Flower comes up smelling of roses in new role for ECB

Flower left his post as team director following this winter’s dreadful tour of Australia, where England surrendered the Ashes in a 5-0 series defeat and proceeded to lose seven of the eight limited-overs contests which followed.

It was immediately indicated that the 45-year-old Zimbabwean would still be a part of England’s future plans and details of his role have now been provided.

Flower’s achievements prior to his miserable Ashes farewell were impressive as England won three previous series against Australia under his tutelage, including the 2010-11 series Down Under.

They also claimed the World Twenty20 title in 2010 and reached No 1 in the world rankings in all three formats.

Flower received an OBE in the Queen’s 2011 Birthday Honours list.

Paul Downton, the ECB’s new managing director for England cricket, said: “The ECB is delighted that we are able to retain a man of Andy Flower’s experience and quality.

“His record over the last five years speaks for itself and the ECB and Andy are excited about the future.”

On the specifics of Flower’s new role, Downton continued: “Not only will Andy work with both players and coaches but he will also look to enhance the relationship between the county coaches and the England set-up. He will also work with level three and four coaches in the ECB coaching structures.

“Andy will also build on the highly successful ECB coach and talent development programmes which have seen players such as Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, to name a few, graduate to England senior teams as well as a number of senior coaches from the first-class game become involved with coaching the England Lions.

Flower added: “I see this as a great opportunity for me as I start a new phase of my career. I am particularly excited about the chance to build and mould a leadership course which is not simply about captaincy but much more.”

n Australia took complete control of the deciding third Test against South Africa on an elongated third day in Cape Town.

Replying to Australia’s 494-7 declared, the Proteas were bowled out for 287 as Mitchell Johnson took 4-42 and Ryan Harris 3-63.

Australia closed on 27-0 in their second innings for a lead of 234.

n Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for three runs as they sank to a 129-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.

Kumar Sangakkara made 76 for Sri Lanka as they reached 253-6 in their 50 overs.

Afghanistan reached 50-1 but slumped to 73-5 and then 124 all out, Ajantha Mendis taking 3-11.