Andy Flower is set to stay in charge of the England cricket team even if they suffer an Ashes humiliation.

The Zimbabwean was confirmed as team director today after impressing as interim coach during the recent tour of West Indies and the England and Wales Cricket Board dropped a strong hint that Flower's future did not depend on performances against Australia this summer.

Alluding to the debacle in January which saw captain Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores lose their jobs, ECB managing director Hugh Morris said: “We have had enough instability this winter. It has been a tough time for all.

“We are pleased with the appointment of Andy. He has the ability to lead England to success and that is why we have appointed him.

“I was able to see Andy at close quarters during the West Indies tour and I was one of a number of people who were very impressed with his work.”

Flower's immediate task will be to offer his views on who should captain England during the World Twenty20 in June, while he will also play a role in choosing the squad for the First Test against West Indies, which begins at Lord's on 6 May.

The major focus of the summer, however, remains to regain the Ashes and Flower admitted that his team need to make up ground on the Australians.

“They are ranked far ahead of us and we are underdogs. But there is a little time for us to build up more momentum,” said Flower.

“We have to play well against the West Indies and in the World Twenty20. There are some big challenges ahead and some big decisions to be made.”