Alastair Cook backs Andy Flower

England captain Alastair Cook has insisted that coach Andy Flower is the right man to lead the team.

The 45-year-old came under pressure following the Three Lions' 5-0 Ashes whitewash by Australia and his reported problems with batsman Kevin Pietersen which he has sternly denied.

"He's a fantastic coach with a very good record," BBC Sport quotes Cook as saying.

"He has to really want to carry on and, just seeing what he's said in the media, he desperately wants to do that, so that's great news for us - we've got a lot of hard work ahead of us."

Flower has been part of the England set-up since 2007.