England duo back Flower appointment

Stuart Broad celebrates with Andy Flower and Andrew Flintoff after England clinch victory in last month's one-day series against the West Indies

England players Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann have thrown their support behind new team director Andy Flower.

Former Zimbabwe batsman Flower was today confirmed as a permanent successor to Peter Moores, who left his post in January.

Flower was Moores’ assistant and, although he retained that title, oversaw England’s winter series in the Caribbean.

Although the Test series against West Indies ended in a frustrating 1-0 defeat, Flower galvanised his players to come from behind and take the one-day series 3-2.

Nottinghamshire seamer Broad, who featured in both legs of the Windies tour, has no doubt he is the right man for the job.

The 22-year-old’s career began less than a year before Flower became Moores’ assistant in May 2007, and Broad is looking forward to continuing their partnership.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with him in the West Indies - a very honest bloke,” said Broad.

“Since he joined the England set-up in 2007 he’s really worked on my batting and helped me develop so that’s very pleasing.

“As I say, he’s a top man and I look forward to working under him for many years to come.”

Broad’s county team-mate Swann agrees Flower is the right man to take England forward, initially into a crucial summer.

First up is an opportunity to exact revenge on West Indies in the Test arena, before England host the World Twenty20 and the Ashes.

And the off-spinner is fully aware Flower will be under pressure to produce immediate results.

Graeme Swann feels Flower has been justly rewarded for his fine work in the West Indies

“It’s probably just desserts. He’s done very well over the winter, as far as I’m concerned. He’s a very good batting coach.” Swann said.

“It’s the results that matter this summer. With Andy I’m sure he’ll get us rallying round.”

Swann, who forced his way past Monty Panesar during the winter's Test series in the West Indies, missed the subsequent one-day matches due to a long-term elbow injury.

However, he is set to return to action next week - for Nottinghamshire against Worcestershire at Trent Bridge in the LV= County Championship - following successful surgery.

“They took a lot of pieces of bone out so I was a bit nervous about how it would react. But it’s pain-free now for the first time in a couple of years, which is a bit novel for me,” he added.

“And I’ve really been enjoying the rehab to get back in. Now I’m just at the point of doing the fitness and doing enough of this and that to be sick of it. I’m just ready to bowl again.”

Should the 30-year-old enjoy an injury-free return, he will be available to Flower for the first Test against West Indies in early May.

And Swann cannot wait to continue a Test career that 12 months ago looked like it may never begin, almost a decade after his first England call-up.

“Once you start playing for England, it’s addictive. It’s like a drug. You want more and more of it,” he added.

“I intend to be fit for the start of the season and make sure I’m in that first Test squad, and then stay in the Test and one-day squads for the whole summer.”