Andy Flower pulls England to No.1: Nasser Hussain backs RCB coach to replace McCullum

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to appoint Andy Flower as Brendon McCullum’s successor, saying the former coach’s careful approach could help revive the Test side after the end of the Bazball era.

McCullum’s four-year spell as England’s Test coach ended after a disappointing run that culminated in a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. While the New Zealander turned England’s fortunes around after taking over in 2022 by winning 11 of his first 13 Tests, England have lost eight of their last 12 matcheswhich prompted the ECB to seek a new direction.

Hussain believes Flower, who coached England between 2009 and 2014, is the ideal candidate to restore the attention to detail he says has been lacking in recent years. Under Flower, England won three Ashes series, including a historic 2010-11 triumph in Australia, and climbed to the top of the ICC Test rankings.

“If you want to keep Rob Key, whose attention to detail is not his strong point, then you need someone under him who goes absolutely over the top and doesn’t miss a trick,” Hussain told Sky Sports.

“For me, Andy Flower would be the best for that by a country mile. Flower took England to number one in the world. I love Flower’s approach to coaching. He was thorough in everything he did.”

“That’s what’s been missing from this England Test side. If I was Rob Key and the ECB, I’d do anything to go and get Andy Flower.”

However, the return of flowers does not have to be straightforward. The Zimbabwean is currently the head coach of IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and is one of the most sought after coaches in franchise cricket.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould said the board had not yet approached any candidates, with chief executive of men’s cricket Rob Key leading the recruitment process following McCullum’s departure.

“We had no contact with any individuals before we spoke to Brendon McCullum. Rob Key will now continue those conversations,” Gould said.

Gould also suggested that the ECB would be willing to appoint a coach to continue working in franchise cricket, including the IPL.

“I think you’re going to find that we have to be progressive on these issues,” Gould said.

“Where we have players trying to balance county, franchise and international cricket, we may have to do the same with our coaching and support staff.

“There may be some compromises that need to be made along the way, but the important thing is that you have the best individual, the best fit, and we get them into those positions. It’s something we would certainly consider.”

The ECB is expected to launch a search for a new Test coach in the coming weeks, with Flower one of the early favorites after Hussain’s strong backing.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

Jul 13, 2026 10:01 am IST