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England sack coach Andy Flower after disastrous Aus tour

Last updated on: January 31, 2014 19:45 IST

Andy FlowerAndy Flower's reign as England coach has come to a sorry end.

The England and Wales Cricket Board asked the Zimbabwean to quit following the national team's disastrous Ashes tour of Australia, according to media reports.

Flower paid the price for England's Ashes humiliation

Reports, however, stated that Flower is expected to involved in some capacity in ECB's coaching structure, possibly at the academy in Loughborough.

The decision was taken following ECB managing director Paul Downton's detailed review of England's disastrous tour of Australia, which included lengthy meetings with Flower and other senior members of the team, who have already returned from Australia.

"The decision was taken on Thursday in a meeting at Lord's that Flower should leave," a media report said.

Under Flower, who took charge of the team in 2009, England won the Ashes thrice. He also led England to their first World Twenty20 title.

England beat Australia 3-0 last summer in the home Ashes series but succumbed to a humiliating 0-5 whitewash in the return series Down Under.

Image: Andy Flower and Alastair Cook

Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images