Andy Flower rules himself out of England role, will continue at RCB
RCB head coach Andy Flower has ruled himself out of the race to become England's next Test coach. Speaking to The Telegraph, Flower said that he was happy with his current role in franchise cricket.
Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Andy Flower has ruled himself out of contention for England's vacant Test coaching job, ending speculation over a return to the national side following Brendon McCullum's departure.
Flower, who was widely regarded as the England and Wales Cricket Board's leading candidate to replace McCullum, said he was happy with his current coaching commitments and had no plans to leave the IPL franchise.
“I have spoken with Rob (Key) and the ECB on that topic. The bottom line for me is that I’m very happy in the work that I’m doing at the moment," Flower told reporters at Lord's on Friday during London Spirit's media day.
"I work for a couple of really good organisations, I’ve got really good teams around me, really good people around me. I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing at the moment."
As England coach, Flower oversaw home and away Ashes victories as well as a Test series win in India. Since leaving the national side, he has enjoyed considerable success in franchise cricket, most recently leading RCB to back-to-back IPL titles.
“I’ve worked with England before and I had an amazing time when I had the privilege to be England head coach... and it would be a privilege for me or anyone else to be the Test coach," he said.
“But for me at this time, I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing. I’m going to stick with doing that.”
The decision comes as another setback for the ECB, which has been forced into a major rebuild following Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket and McCullum's exit as Test coach after England's 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand.
WHY WAS MCCULLUM SACKED?
McCullum's four-year spell in charge of the Test side ended on July 12, bringing the curtain down on the Bazball era that transformed England's approach to red-ball cricket. Although the ECB maintained that McCullum had stepped down, the former New Zealand captain suggested he had been dismissed, saying he respected the board's decision. He will, however, continue as England's white-ball coach.
Flower had emerged as the frontrunner owing to his successful previous stint with England. Under his leadership, England rose to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.
Instead, the Zimbabwean will continue his work with Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he has overseen the franchise's resurgence in recent IPL seasons.
WHO CAN COACH ENGLAND NEXT?
With Flower no longer in the race, England's search for a new Test coach is set to widen. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, whose long association with Chennai Super Kings ended earlier this week, has emerged as a potential candidate, although it remains unclear whether he would be interested in the role.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara and Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson are also understood to be among the names under consideration.
England are now searching for a new leader to take charge of the Test side as they prepare for next summer's Ashes, marking the beginning of a new chapter after the end of the Stokes-McCullum partnership that reshaped English Test cricket.
Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Andy Flower has ruled himself out of contention for England's vacant Test coaching job, ending speculation over a return to the national side following Brendon McCullum's departure.
Flower, who was widely regarded as the England and Wales Cricket Board's leading candidate to replace McCullum, said he was happy with his current coaching commitments and had no plans to leave the IPL franchise.
“I have spoken with Rob (Key) and the ECB on that topic. The bottom line for me is that I’m very happy in the work that I’m doing at the moment," Flower told reporters at Lord's on Friday during London Spirit's media day.
"I work for a couple of really good organisations, I’ve got really good teams around me, really good people around me. I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing at the moment."
As England coach, Flower oversaw home and away Ashes victories as well as a Test series win in India. Since leaving the national side, he has enjoyed considerable success in franchise cricket, most recently leading RCB to back-to-back IPL titles.
“I’ve worked with England before and I had an amazing time when I had the privilege to be England head coach... and it would be a privilege for me or anyone else to be the Test coach," he said.
“But for me at this time, I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing. I’m going to stick with doing that.”
The decision comes as another setback for the ECB, which has been forced into a major rebuild following Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket and McCullum's exit as Test coach after England's 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand.
WHY WAS MCCULLUM SACKED?
McCullum's four-year spell in charge of the Test side ended on July 12, bringing the curtain down on the Bazball era that transformed England's approach to red-ball cricket. Although the ECB maintained that McCullum had stepped down, the former New Zealand captain suggested he had been dismissed, saying he respected the board's decision. He will, however, continue as England's white-ball coach.
Flower had emerged as the frontrunner owing to his successful previous stint with England. Under his leadership, England rose to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.
Instead, the Zimbabwean will continue his work with Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he has overseen the franchise's resurgence in recent IPL seasons.
WHO CAN COACH ENGLAND NEXT?
With Flower no longer in the race, England's search for a new Test coach is set to widen. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, whose long association with Chennai Super Kings ended earlier this week, has emerged as a potential candidate, although it remains unclear whether he would be interested in the role.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara and Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson are also understood to be among the names under consideration.
England are now searching for a new leader to take charge of the Test side as they prepare for next summer's Ashes, marking the beginning of a new chapter after the end of the Stokes-McCullum partnership that reshaped English Test cricket.
Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Andy Flower has ruled himself out of contention for England's vacant Test coaching job, ending speculation over a return to the national side following Brendon McCullum's departure.
Flower, who was widely regarded as the England and Wales Cricket Board's leading candidate to replace McCullum, said he was happy with his current coaching commitments and had no plans to leave the IPL franchise.
“I have spoken with Rob (Key) and the ECB on that topic. The bottom line for me is that I’m very happy in the work that I’m doing at the moment," Flower told reporters at Lord's on Friday during London Spirit's media day.
"I work for a couple of really good organisations, I’ve got really good teams around me, really good people around me. I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing at the moment."
As England coach, Flower oversaw home and away Ashes victories as well as a Test series win in India. Since leaving the national side, he has enjoyed considerable success in franchise cricket, most recently leading RCB to back-to-back IPL titles.
“I’ve worked with England before and I had an amazing time when I had the privilege to be England head coach... and it would be a privilege for me or anyone else to be the Test coach," he said.
“But for me at this time, I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing. I’m going to stick with doing that.”
The decision comes as another setback for the ECB, which has been forced into a major rebuild following Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket and McCullum's exit as Test coach after England's 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand.
WHY WAS MCCULLUM SACKED?
McCullum's four-year spell in charge of the Test side ended on July 12, bringing the curtain down on the Bazball era that transformed England's approach to red-ball cricket. Although the ECB maintained that McCullum had stepped down, the former New Zealand captain suggested he had been dismissed, saying he respected the board's decision. He will, however, continue as England's white-ball coach.
Flower had emerged as the frontrunner owing to his successful previous stint with England. Under his leadership, England rose to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.
Instead, the Zimbabwean will continue his work with Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he has overseen the franchise's resurgence in recent IPL seasons.
WHO CAN COACH ENGLAND NEXT?
With Flower no longer in the race, England's search for a new Test coach is set to widen. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, whose long association with Chennai Super Kings ended earlier this week, has emerged as a potential candidate, although it remains unclear whether he would be interested in the role.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara and Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson are also understood to be among the names under consideration.
England are now searching for a new leader to take charge of the Test side as they prepare for next summer's Ashes, marking the beginning of a new chapter after the end of the Stokes-McCullum partnership that reshaped English Test cricket.
