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Andy Flower Sacked As England Coach: Kevin Pietersen Survives Again

Flower Sacked As Great Survivor Pietersen Sees Off Another Foe
Samuel Luckhurst
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England Ashes Test cricketer Kevin Pietersen (R) speaks with coach Andy Flower (L) during a training session at a suburban cricket ground near Perth on October 29, 2013. Australia will be fighting to win back the Ashes for the first time in six years but injuries, selection woes and a questionable build-up give every sign of a team in upheaval ahead of the first Test against England at the Gabba in Brisbane starting November 21. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOODIMAGE STRICTLY RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE -
GREG WOOD via Getty Images

Andy Flower has been sacked as England coach following their disastrous Ashes tour this winter.

Australia recorded a 5-0 whitewash of the tourists less than four months on from England's 3-0 summer series victory.

Flower had made it clear, after the final Test defeat in Sydney this month, he intended to continue and try to reinvigorate England alongside captain Alastair Cook.

However new ECB managing director Paul Downton, who officially starts in his post on Saturday, met with Flower at Lord's on Thursday and informed the Zimbabwean his four-and-a-half year tenure had come to an end.

Flower is the third figure within the England set-up who has eventually left his role following a frosty relationship with Kevin Pietersen.

Australia regain Ashes
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(01 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: David Warner of Australia celebrates victory in the change rooms during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(02 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Former Australian Captain Mark Taylor interviews the Australian Team as they celebrate victory in the change rooms during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(03 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Chris Rogers of Australia celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss Tim Bresnan of England during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(04 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: David Warner of Australia celebrates victory in the change rooms during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(05 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: The Australian team pours beer on Gavin Dovey, Australian Team Manager, during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(06 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Chris Rogers of Australia celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss Tim Bresnan of England during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(07 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Brad Haddin of Australia celebrates with Darren Lehmann, coach of Australia, during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(08 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: David Warner of Australia is surrounded by photographers during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(09 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Brad Haddin of Australia tips drink on Darren Lehmann, coach of Australia, during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(10 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Chris Rogers of Australia is congratulated by team mates after taking a catch to dismiss Tim Bresnan of England during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(11 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Chris Rogers of Australia is congratulated by team mates after taking a catch to dismiss Tim Bresnan of England during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(12 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Mitchell Johnson of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Tim Bresnan of England during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(13 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Mitchell Johnson of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Tim Bresnan of England during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(14 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Ryan Harris of Australia pours beer on Mitchell Johnson of Australia as the Australian team celebrate in the change rooms during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(15 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Steve Smith and Michael Clarke of Australia speak at a press conference after defeating England and claiming a 3-0 series win on day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(16 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Australian players celebrate dismissing James Anderson of England to claim a 3-0 series win on day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at the WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(17 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Australian coach Darren Lehmann shares a joke with David Warner of Australia after winning the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(18 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: The Australian team celebrates victory in the change rooms during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v England - Third Test: Day 5(19 of20)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: The Australian team celebrates victory in the change rooms during day five of the Third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at WACA on December 17, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-AUS-ENG-ASHES(20 of20)
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The Australian team celebrates after defeating England to win the Ashes on the final day of the third Ashes cricket Test match against England in Perth on December 17, 2013. IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE AFP PHOTO / GREG WOOD (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

It was reported recently Flower had issued an ultimatum over Pietersen's place in the side, but now he has lost his job England's most naturally gifted batsman can continue his international career.

Although he resigned the captaincy in 2008, Pietersen's uneasy alliance with former coach Peter Moores led to the latter's sacking and Pietersen went on to say: "The team wasn't happy, things weren't right, and England cricket was going nowhere."

And 18 months ago Pietersen was at the centre of more controversy when he sent text messages to South African cricketers - during England's Test series with the Proteas - in which he made disparaging comments about captain Andrew Strauss.

Pietersen was demoted for the final Lord's Test, which proved to be Strauss' last as he retired from cricket soon after. Pietersen was "reintegrated" into the England set-up for the triumphant winter tour of India in 2012.

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