London: Former Zimbabwe skipper Andy Flower was named as the head coach of the England cricket team on Wednesday after his successful stint with the Andrew Strauss-led side as an assistant during the recent Caribbean tour earlier this month.

"It is a great honour to be appointed to this role. I understand the history of cricket in this country and I am very proud to be given this responsibility," Flower said.

"I am delighted to have been given the job but I recognise that all the hard work is ahead of me. I want to create a winning England team," he said.

"The most important thing is not just getting the job but doing a good job for England in the weeks, months and years to come.

"We will all now be focused on working extremely hard as we all try to improve our position in the world rankings," he added.

Announcing Flower's appointment at a press conference at Lord's cricket ground here, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris said, "I am delighted that Andy has accepted the role.

"I had the privilege of seeing Andy work with the England team during the recent Caribbean tour and he impressed not only me but also the players, the backroom staff, management and the ECB officials who were out there."

"He is a man of great cricketing pedigree as well as a man of unquestionable integrity. He will provide the outstanding leadership that England require as we embark on this most exciting and challenging of years," Morris added.

The 40-year-old left-handed wicket-keeper batsman, who was earlier assistant to Peter Moores, was given the reins of England team in the recent West Indies tour following Moores ouster after a fall out with then skipper Kevin Pietersen.