England set to name Ashes captain

England stand-in captain Andrew Strauss is set to discover if he has done enough to land the job on a permanent basis and lead England Down Under to defend the Ashes.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier has confirmed the decision on whether Strauss or Andrew Flintoff will win the captaincy is imminent. Strauss has underlined his credentials in the summer series win over Pakistan while Flintoff is winning his battle to be fit in time for November's first Test following an ankle injury.

Collier said: "Obviously Andrew Strauss has done a superb job this summer and Andrew Flintoff was in possession. It is up to the selectors now to review exactly where they would like to go."

He added: "I am convinced that decision will be confirmed within the next three to four weeks. People do need to know exactly where they stand for the winter.

"We are reviewing how Andrew Flintoff's rehabilitation is going and I think we are all very confident Andrew will be with us in Australia but we just need to measure that and see how we go."

Meanwhile Collier says he is confident of persuading coach Duncan Fletcher to pledge his long-term future to the cause with one eye on the next home Ashes series in 2009.

There has been some speculation over the future of Fletcher, who has a rolling contract with the ECB, but Collier told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek: "I am not expecting him to leave.

"We have had discussions with Duncan with what is clearly a busy period coming up. There is another Ashes series in 2009 and we would very much like Duncan to stay through that period.

"He has done a fantastic job for English cricket. The fact we are number two in the world and heading to Australia with the Ashes is something I don't think was dreamt of five or six years ago."