Flower boost for England

Andy Flower has handed England a massive boost by agreeing a new deal to remain as team director.

Team director agrees new deal

Andy Flower has handed England a massive boost by agreeing a new deal to remain as team director. Flower has enjoyed a successful stint since taking over the reins from Peter Moores in April 2009. The Zimbabwean has overseen back-to-back Ashes triumphs as well as guiding England to the World Twenty20 crown in the Caribbean in 2010. An ECB statement read: "ECB today announced that Andy Flower has renewed his contract and will continue in his current role as England team director. "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 is now hoping to be able to continue the development of the side - with the aim of guiding them to the top of the world rankings.

Delighted

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 number one 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 number one side in the world and challenge for global titles and I feel we have been making steady progress. "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."