Former England head coach Andy Flower was appointed to a new role within the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hierarchy on Monday with officials announcing he'd become their technical director of elite coaching.
Flower resigned last month as coach of the national side following the team's humiliating 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia, a reverse that also signalled the end of star batsman Kevin Pietersen's international career.
But at the time of his departure from the coaching role, English cricket chiefs made it clear they wanted Flower to stay on in another capacity.
And in a statement issued Monday the ECB said the new position would see Flower taking on a wide-ranging role that would "incorporate working with the next generation of England players and coaches as well as being charged with creating a leadership programme for young England players".
Prior to the Ashes debacle, the 45-year-old Flower – appointed as England coach in 2009 – oversaw three Test series wins against Australia, including the 2010/11 campaign 'Down Under'.
Under Flower's guidance, England also won the 2010 World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean and the following year took the side to the top of the world Test rankings.
Paul Downton, the recently-appointed ECB managing director, said: "The ECB is delighted that we are able to retain a man of Andy Flower's experience and quality.
"His record over the last five years speaks for itself and the ECB and Andy are excited about the future."
Former England wicket-keeper Downton added: "Not only will Andy work with both players and coaches but he will also look to enhance the relationship between the county coaches and the England set-up."
Flower, who will be based at the national cricket performance centre at Loughborough University in the English Midlands, said: "I see this as a great opportunity for me as I start a new phase of my career.
"This role offers me a chance to make a real contribution to the ability and character of England players and coaches in the years to come," the former Zimbabwe batsman added.
England have yet to appoint a full-time head coach in succession to Flower, with limited overs chief Ashley Giles – currently in charge of the side in the Caribbean for one-day and Twenty20 series against the West Indies – in pole position to take over.
Earlier this month former South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten, who'd enjoyed successful spells as coach of both the Proteas and India, ruled himself out of the England job on family grounds.
England are looking for a head coach across all three major formats – Test, one-day internationals and Twenty20s. In December 2012 Flower ceded coaching control of England's one-day teams to former England spinner Giles.
But when he resigned last month Flower said he'd come to believe a man in his position needed to be "responsible across all formats".
