Brendon McCullum’s stint as England men’s Test head coach has come to an end, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reportedly identified Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower as its top choice to replace the New Zealander.
According to The i Paper, Flower is the ECB’s preferred candidate to take charge of England’s Test team. However, the report adds that his lucrative IPL contract with RCB could prove to be the biggest obstacle, with the ECB likely needing to make a substantial financial offer to lure him away from Bengaluru.
Andy Flower’s Successful England Coaching Stint
Flower is no stranger to English cricket. He joined the England setup as Peter Moores’ assistant in 2007 before taking over as interim team director during the 2009 tour of the West Indies. Later that year, he was appointed full-time team director.
His tenure turned out to be one of the most successful periods in England’s Test history. Under Flower, England regained the Ashes in 2009, lifted their maiden ICC trophy by winning the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, and famously reclaimed the Ashes in Australia during the 2010-11 series—their last Ashes triumph Down Under.
England also climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings in 2011, highlighted by a dominant 4-0 home series win over India. Flower added another Ashes triumph in 2013 before stepping down after England’s crushing 5-0 defeat in Australia during the 2013-14 Ashes series. He continued working with the ECB in various roles before moving into franchise cricket.
Flower’s Exit Would Be a Massive Blow for RCB
Following his England stint, Flower established himself as one of the most respected T20 coaches in world cricket, earning a reputation for his data-driven approach and tactical flexibility.
RCB appointed him ahead of the 2024 season on a reported three-year deal, and he played a key role in transforming the franchise into one of the IPL’s strongest sides.
Despite inheriting an unbalanced squad, Flower shifted RCB towards a more aggressive, team-first T20 philosophy. Alongside Director of Cricket Mo Bobat, he reshaped the squad during the 2025 auction, retaining only Virat Kohli as the marquee player while investing heavily in elite bowling talent.
The overhaul paid immediate dividends as RCB went on to win back-to-back IPL titles, building one of the most balanced squads in the competition.
Losing Flower at this stage would represent a significant setback for the franchise, particularly after its recent change in ownership. The new management is unlikely to welcome the departure of one of the architects of the team’s success.
Interestingly, England had previously appointed McCullum while he was serving as Kolkata Knight Riders’ head coach, setting a precedent for recruiting coaches directly from the IPL.
Other Candidates in the Race
Should the ECB fail to secure Flower’s services, the report states that several other high-profile names remain under consideration. These include former Australia head coach and current Lucknow Super Giants coach Justin Langer, England Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan, and Surrey head coach Gareth Batty.
While no official approach has been confirmed, Flower has reportedly emerged as the ECB’s primary target as England begin their search for a new Test coach.
