England team director Andy Flower has resigned following Ashes humiliation.

Flower's five-year reign includes three Ashes series wins and England's first World Twenty20 title.

But it ended with the 5-0 whitewash in Australia this winter.

Paul Downton, Managing Director of England Cricket, met with Flower this week.

"Andy has been the most successful coach in England’s history and we at the ECB are very disappointed to see him leave," said Downton.

"We respect his decision and the reasons for it but we are keen to keep Andy’s experience and outstanding knowledge within the ECB. We are at advanced stages of negotiating a role for Andy within the ECB structure which will best utilise his undoubted skills."

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, added: "Andy Flower has not only shown himself to be a coach of great quality but also a man of great integrity.

"He has led England to great successes during his reign as Team Director and I look forward to his continued input in the ECB’s coaching structure.

"I am sure that he will be every bit as successful in that role as he has been in his five years as England Team Director.

"I thank him for his contribution to England’s cricketing history and wish him well in the future and his continued role in England’s cricketing success."

Andy Flower said: "Following the recent very disappointing Ashes defeat it is clear to me that this is now time for England cricket, led by Alastair Cook, to rebuild with a new set of values and goals.

"The opportunity to start with a clean slate and begin to instil methods to ensure England cricket is moving in the right direction will be an incredibly exciting challenge for someone but I do not feel like I am in a position to undertake that challenge.

"In order for England cricket to make significant progress I believe that the Team Director, together with the respective captains, needs to be responsible across all formats in order to positively influence the rebuilding process.

"This will ensure complete clarity and continuity across the squads and having stepped aside from the limited-overs squads 14 months ago that is not something I am able to do and I do not therefore feel that starting the process would be in the best interests of all involved at what is a pivotal time for England cricket.

"This has been a very difficult decision to make and I remain committed to England cricket and would like to wish Alastair Cook and Paul Downton every success.

"I will remain in my position as a selector for the time being and am currently exploring possible roles within the ECB. The priority must now be to establish the direction and personnel needed to ensure England cricket moves forward."