Andy Flower is the odds-on favourite — priced at 1/2 with William Hill — to become England’s next Test head coach after the ECB confirmed Brendon McCullum’s departure from the red-ball role on Sunday. The search is on. The clock is ticking. And according to Nasser Hussain, there is one name above all others.
“For me, the best person for that would be Andy Flower by a country mile,” Hussain told Sky Sports News. “Flower took England to number one in the world. I love his approach to coaching — he was meticulous in everything that he did. That’s what’s been lacking in this England Test match side. I would do anything if I was Rob Key and the ECB to go and get Andy Flower.”
The problem is that getting him will not be simple.
THE FALL — AND WHAT IT LEFT BEHIND
McCullum won 11 of his first 13 Tests after taking charge in spring 2022, turning a side that had managed one win in 17 matches before his arrival into a team that played with genuine purpose. England drew the 2023 home Ashes 2-2, beat India, beat Pakistan. Then came Australia.
A 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia was followed by eight losses in England’s last 12 Tests — including a 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand that served as the final straw. Ben Stokes retired from international cricket at Trent Bridge during that series. McCullum continues as England’s white-ball coach after leading them to the top of the T20 rankings with a 4-0 demolition of India.
“They’ve lost seven of their last nine, they’re languishing somewhere towards the bottom of the World Test Championship,” former England captain Michael Atherton told Sky Sports. “This is really a long hangover from the Ashes.”
Hussain went further, describing Rob Key as “lucky” to have survived: “I think [Key] is lucky to have survived the role, given everyone around him has lost theirs. Stokes stood down, McCullum has been sacked — the decisions that he has made have backfired.”
🗣️ “Flower took England to number one in the world. I love his approach to coaching — he was meticulous in everything that he did.” — Nasser Hussain, Sky Sports
ANDY FLOWER: THE CV NOBODY ELSE HAS
Flower’s record across formats is remarkable. He led England to their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2010, won three Ashes series between 2009 and 2013, and took England to a Test series win in India in 2012 — their first there since 1984-85. Under his leadership, England reached the top of the ICC Test rankings.
On the franchise circuit, Flower delivered back-to-back IPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and 2026, joining Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings as the only franchises to win the IPL in consecutive seasons. His total across all formats reaches ten major trophies, spanning the PSL, The Hundred, the ILT20, and the Abu Dhabi T10.
“There’s a deeper level of confidence in our squad,” Flower said after RCB’s second consecutive IPL crown in May 2026. “Going into the playoffs, there was a deeper level of confidence — it didn’t make it any easier, but it made it different.”
The culture-building behind those words is exactly what Hussain believes England’s Test environment has been missing. McCullum’s approach was instinctive and high-energy. Flower’s is structural, detail-obsessed, and built around accountability — the conditions that produced a world number one Test side between 2011 and 2013.
🗣️ Flower has won ten major trophies as a coach across formats — including back-to-back IPL titles with RCB in 2025 and 2026 — making him the most decorated active cricket coach in the world.
THE JOB-SHARE QUESTION
ECB chief executive Richard Gould confirmed the board has not yet spoken to any candidates, with Rob Key leading the recruitment process. But Gould opened the door to an arrangement allowing the new Test coach to retain franchise commitments — a move that could enable Flower to keep his role with RCB and his upcoming London Spirit assignment in The Hundred.
“Where we have players trying to balance between county, franchise and international cricket, we may have to do the same with our coaching staff,” Gould said. “There may well be some compromises that need to be made along the way, but the important thing is that you have the best individual.”
Gould added that an interim appointment may be needed if the ECB cannot complete the process before Pakistan’s Test series opener at Headingley on August 19 — now 37 days away.
🗣️ The ECB confirmed they would consider allowing England’s new Test coach to retain IPL franchise commitments — opening the door to a Flower appointment without forcing him to leave RCB.
THE FIELD — AND WHY IT DOESN’T MATCH
The candidates behind Flower include former Australia coach Justin Langer at 3/1 and Gareth Batty at 7/2, with a wider field featuring Andrew Flintoff, Jonathan Trott, Richard Dawson, Mike Hesson, Rahul Dravid, and Stephen Fleming.
None of them are priced at 1/2. None of them took England to No. 1. And none of them have ten trophies since.
🗣️ Andy Flower is the 1/2 odds-on favourite to become England’s next Test coach — the shortest price of any candidate, ahead of Justin Langer at 3/1 and Gareth Batty at 7/2.
WHAT’S NEXT
England’s next Test assignment is the three-match series against Pakistan, beginning August 19 at Headingley. The captaincy remains open, with Gould confirming the decision will follow the coaching appointment. Joe Root has emerged as the most likely interim leader, with Harry Brook currently England’s white-ball skipper. Key’s search begins this week.
FAQ
Who is the favourite to be England’s next Test coach? Andy Flower is the odds-on 1/2 favourite with William Hill to become England’s next Test head coach. Former Australia coach Justin Langer is second at 3/1, with Gareth Batty priced at 7/2. The ECB’s formal recruitment process is being led by managing director Rob Key and is expected to begin this week.
Why did Brendon McCullum leave as England Test coach? McCullum was sacked after England lost eight of their last 12 Tests, including a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand. He retains his role as England’s white-ball coach, having led them to the top of the T20 rankings with a 4-0 win over India just days before his Test dismissal was announced.
Has Andy Flower coached England before? Yes. Flower was England’s team director from 2009 to 2014, a tenure that included three Ashes series wins (2009, 2010-11, 2013), England’s first away Ashes win since 1986-87, their first Test series win in India since 1984-85, and the ICC T20 World Cup title in 2010. Under his leadership, England reached No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings.
What has Andy Flower won as a coach? Flower has won ten major trophies as a coach across formats and continents, including back-to-back IPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and 2026, the PSL, The Hundred, the ILT20, the Abu Dhabi T10, and three Ashes series with England. He joined Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings as the only sides to win consecutive IPL titles.
When does England play their next Test match? England’s next Test series begins August 19, 2026, at Headingley, Leeds, against Pakistan. It is a three-match series. The ECB has said it would prefer a permanent coach in place for that series but will consider an interim appointment if the recruitment process requires more time.
