ANDREW STRAUSS is taking the summer off work – and Andy Flower will step into his job as England team supremo.
Former captain Strauss has been given indefinite leave by the ECB to be with his wife Ruth, who has cancer and begins a new course of treatment on Friday.
Flower is currently coach of the England Lions and is expected to cover for Strauss for at least three months.
As coach, Flower won series in India and Australia and guided England to the top of the world Test rankings in 2011.
But his tenure ended with a 5-0 whitewash in Australia and the acrimony of the Kevin Pietersen bust-up.
Strauss succeeded Paul Downton as England team managing director in May 2015.
He said: “Ruth was diagnosed in December and the new treatment will be challenging.
Andy is stepping in for me. We all know about his qualities.”
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Strauss confirmed that the midnight curfew – imposed in Australia after Ben Duckett threw a drink over James Anderson in a bar in Perth – remains in place for the summer.
Six scouts will help new chief selector Ed Smith by producing reports on county players..
They are Somerset veteran Marcus Trescothick, Lancashire director of cricket Glen Chapple, Gloucestershire boss Richard Dawson, ex-Notts wicketkeeper Chris Read, former England batsman James Taylor and ex-Worcestershire coach Steve Rhodes.
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