RCB coach Andy Flower turns down England Test coaching role
Andy Flower (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 17 Jul 2026, 05:55 PM• Read time - 2 mins
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has opted out of the opportunity to coach the England men’s Test team. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) approached Flower to take up the job, and he was even involved in several conversations with the managing director, Rob Key.
However, Flower has declined to take up the role and will continue to coach Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and London Spirit in the Hundred. Flower has previously coached England between 2009 and 2014 and had a successful tenure, winning the Ashes three times, a Test series in India, along with the T20 World Cup 2010.
He has since become the outstanding coach on the franchise T20 circuit.
"I have, yes. I have spoken with the ECB. We're all aware of the vacancy for the head coach job of the England national team, and I have spoken with Rob [Key] and the ECB on that topic. [But] the bottom line for me is that I'm very happy in the work that I'm doing at the moment,” Flower said at Lord's ahead of the start of the Hundred as quoted by Cricinfo.
The ECB was even willing to let Flower combine the role with his RCB commitments. However, he viewed the arrangement as impractical because of the short gap between the end of the IPL and the start of England's home Test season.
England in search of new coach and captain
"For me, personally, I don't think I could have done both, especially with the IPL being held during the first couple of months of the English summer. If I was England Test coach, I'd like to be here [in the UK] watching and interacting with the people I needed to watch and interact with. So for me, that wasn't a possibility,” he added.
ECB recently sacked Brendon McCullum as Test coach, following their 1-2 defeat at home against New Zealand. However, he continues to coach the limited-overs side. England have their next Test series against Pakistan at home, beginning on August 19, which leaves them with just a month to find McCullum’s successor. They also have to name a new captain of the Test side, following Ben Stokes’ retirement.