ENGLAND test captain and Essex County Cricket Club star Alastair Cook has backed the national side's team director Andy Flower to carry on in the post.

Speaking at a press conference after losing the third Ashes test in Perth, meaning Australia took a 3-0 series lead and regained the iconic urn, the left-hander said he believes Flower should stay.

The former Zimbabwe international cricketer who played at the Ford County Ground between 2002 and 2006 took over coaching the team in 2009.

However following England's lacklustre performances Down Under, Flower has come under pressure with pundits including former test star Geoffrey Boycott saying a decision must be made on his future.

But 28-year-old Cook said he is the right man for the job still.

"He's an outstanding coach - let's make no mistake about," he said.

"He's an outstanding person, and a great person to have around - especially for me as a captain, the advice he gives me.

"It's not down to him that we've lost - it's that we haven't had enough players in form."