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Andy Flower is likely to become the next England National Cricket Team head coach for the Test as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has removed Brendon McCullum as the team’s head coach for Tests.
While McCullum will remain in charge across the white-ball formats, the ECB will have to appoint a fresh candidate for the vacant position.
Andy Flower to become England’s Test team head coach!
If the reports are to be believed, then the cricket governing body of England is likely to appoint Andy Flower, the seasoned coach who guided the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to glory in back-to-back seasons, as the successor to McCullum. According to the UK’s iNews, the ECB is all set to go all out to acquire the services of the Zimbabwe cricket legend.
“The i Paper understands Flower is the England & Wales Cricket Board’s No 1 choice to take over – with one source saying they are going “all out” to land the man who led England to their last away Ashes series win in Australia in 2010-11,” according to the media report.
Why could Andy Flower become England’s next coach?
Andy Flower is a well-known face in England cricket who gifted the Three Lions multiple memorable matches in the past as the coach of the team. With Flower as the head coach, the England cricket team became the No.1 in the Test rankings. Winning the Ashes in 2011 against Australia was one of the most highlighted moments during his tenure.
Flower’s first stint as the England head coach was from 2009 to 2014. During this period, the Three Lions won the Ashes three times. Due to a controversial situation with Kevin Pietersen, the coach stepped down from the job.
The timing of the ECB’s announcement to sack Brendon McCullum more interesting. They could have easily removed McCullum as soon as the Ashes 2025-26 disaster, but they did not opt to do so. The board waited until the home Tests against New Zealand, when they made the announcement. England lost the 3-match Test series against New Zealand by 2-1.
Andy Flower is currently associated with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Because of the timing of the announcement, the media report hints that the cricket board is already working on a replacement.
“The timing suggests a successor is already in place, with the only stumbling block to Flower taking over being his lucrative franchise coaching jobs that would require the ECB to spend big money on convincing him to return,” the media report further added.
But will Andy Flower join the national cricket team again, given his age? He is now 58 and mostly prefers short-term stints as a coach. With the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he needs to spend only around three months with the team, and that too for a good chunk of money.
If the England and Wales Cricket Board is determined to bring the veteran back into the set-up to regain momentum, then the board will have to invest well in him to finalize his nod.
