Summary England and Wales Cricket Board has appointed Andy Flower as technical director of elite coaching.
LONDON (AFP) - Former England head coach Andy Flower was appointed to a new role within the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hierarchy on Monday with officials announcing he d become their technical director of elite coaching.
Flower resigned last month as coach of the national side following the team s humiliating 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia, a reverse that also signalled the end of star batsman Kevin Pietersen s international career.
But at the time of his departure from the coaching role, English cricket chiefs made it clear they wanted Flower to stay on in another capacity.
And in a statement issued Monday the ECB said the new position would see Flower taking on a wide-ranging role that would "incorporate working with the next generation of England players and coaches as well as being charged with creating a leadership programme for young England players".
Prior to the Ashes debacle, the 45-year-old Flower -- appointed as England coach in 2009 -- oversaw three Test series wins against Australia, including the 2010/11 campaign Down Under .
Under Flower s guidance, England also won the 2010 World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean and the following year took the side to the top of the world Test rankings.
Paul Downton, the recently-appointed ECB managing director, 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."
Former England wicket-keeper Downton added: "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."
Flower, who will be based at the national cricket performance centre at Loughborough University in the English Midlands, said: "I see this as a great opportunity for me as I start a new phase of my career.
"This role offers me a chance to make a real contribution to the ability and character of England players and coaches in the years to come," the former Zimbabwe batsman added.
England have yet to appoint a full-time head coach in succession to Flower, with limited overs chief Ashley Giles -- currently in charge of the side in the Caribbean for one-day and Twenty20 series against the West Indies -- in pole position to take over.
Earlier this month former South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten, who d enjoyed successful spells as coach of both the Proteas and India, ruled himself out of the England job on family grounds.
England are looking for a head coach across all three major formats -- Test, one-day internationals and Twenty20s.
In December 2012 Flower ceded coaching control of England s one-day teams to former England spinner Giles.
But when he resigned last month Flower said he d come to believe a man in his position needed to be "responsible across all formats".
