ECB tells new coach Flower to win Ashes

London, Apr. 15 (ANI): Andy Flower, who is set to become the new permanent coach of the England cricket team, has been told to win back the Ashes this summer.Flower has been elevated to the full-time position of England team director, after filling in during the three-month tour of the West Indies.

His appointment strengthens the position of Test and 50-over captain Andrew Strauss, who was adamant he wanted Flower to do the job.

Now Flower, 40, will be expected to out-think Australia in the way fellow Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher ran rings round them during England's epic Ashes triumph of 2005.

Before then, Flower must take charge for the Test and one-day series against the Windies and the World Twenty20 event in June.

His first task in his 300,000-pound-a-year role will be to decide the immediate future of Michael Vaughan.Flower joins the selection panel of Geoff Miller, Ashley Giles and James Whittaker and this weekend they will pick a squad for the First Test against West Indies on May 6.

Flower's appointment ends the bloodletting which saw Peter Moores and Kevin Pietersen both sacked.

The ex-Zimbabwe skipper, once rated the world's No 1 batsman, has been a strong favourite for the post since Moores was ousted. (ANI)