Prior to playing India in the World Test Championship final, the Australian squad made a last-minute addition to their support staff when they hired former England head coach Andy Flower as a consultant. The former captain of Zimbabwe has joined the club before of Wednesday's match at The Oval; most recently, he served as the head coach of Lucknow Super Giants in the just finished Indian Premier League.
Flower previously led the England squad from 2009 to 2014. He is not anticipated to be there when the Ashes series gets underway on June 16 at Edgbaston, though. One of England's most successful managers, former wicketkeeper-batsman Flower has led his team to three straight Ashes victories in this millennium, with victories in 2009 and 2013 at home and, most impressively, in 2010–11 in Australia.