Strauss backs Flower to be England's new head coach

London, Mar 27 (ANI): England's cricket captain Andrew Strauss has offered his strongest support to Andy Flower to become the team's new head coach.

Strauss says he has loved working with Flower on this Caribbean tour and wants the relationship to continue beyond the summer Ashes series.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to reveal the name of the new coach within days of the team flying home on April 5, The Sun reports.

South Africans Mickey Arthur and Graham Ford are in the frame as well as is former Indian team coach John Wright. But Flower remains the favourite.

Strauss' support will be a strong factor when ECB Managing Director Hugh Morris names Peter Moores successor.

On the eve of today's third one-dayer against West Indies here in Barbados, Strauss said: "Andy and I have worked very well together, and it would be fantastic to continue."

"I'm sure Andy is a very strong candidate so there is a good chance things will continue how they are. I look to an announcement soon so we can make sure everything is established prior to the Ashes," he said.

Part of the philosophy of Strauss and Flower is to work the players extra hard in the gaps between the one-dayers.

These have included tough fitness sessions and exercising between balls in the nets to try to simulate fatigue. Strauss added: "We've had some tough sessions. Traditionally, the back end of a tour has been beach time. But our schedule is arduous and the only way to counteract that is to be fit, both physically and mentally." (ANI)