Melbourne: Andy Flower says he'll be telling the new England Cricket Board managing director when they meet this week that he wants to continue contributing as a national coach despite the Ashes series debacle in Australia.
England is in danger of being swept 5-0 in the Ashes for the second time in eight seasons after four lopsided defeats to Australia ahead of the fifth test starting Friday in Sydney. It has confounded critics how this team, only four months after winning the Ashes on home soil, could be so comprehensively outplayed in Australia.
"Certainly I examine my role in the tour. I ask myself tough questions," Flower told reporters in Melbourne on Monday, the morning after an eight-wicket defeat in the fourth test.
Flower, who has guided England to the top ranking at stages in the three formats since taking over a team in disarray in 2009, will meet ECB managing director Paul Downton in Sydney.
"We'll talk about the leadership of the national team with regards to the coaching position," Flower said. "I'm very motivated to contribute to English cricket and that's what I'm going to do."
Flower played 63 tests for Zimbabwe and used the same qualities he applied to his batting — being meticulous, unyielding and single-minded — to his coaching with great success for England. But calls are mounting for a change at the top, while skipper Alastair Cook has come under increasing pressure for a lack of imagination in his leadership.
But Flower defended the 101-test veteran, and said one series shouldn't determine Cook's future.
"Alastair Cook has captained six test series for England and this is the first series loss that he's had," Flower said. "We are all responsible for this result, the management staff as well as the players.
"I don't believe we should be totally distraught about where we are. Now we're faced with one chance in Sydney to redeem ourselves to a small extent."
Flower said he expected there'd be at least one change to the England lineup for the Sydney test.
