Former England bowler Stuart Broad says he understands Andy Flower’s decision to turn down the England Test job, and is unsure over who the ECB turn to next, pondering whether the role has become “less attractive”.
Brendon McCullum was removed as England’s Test head coach after a run of seven defeats in nine and Flower, who led the team to victory in the three Ashes series during his previous spell in charge between 2009 and 2014, quickly emerged as the favourite to replace him.
But Flower cited his current coaching commitments with Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as well as The Hundred’s London Spirit – which would overlap with the English cricket season – as a reason to rule himself out of contention.
Andy Flower was previously coach of Trent Rockets in The Hundred but will be in charge of London Sprit for the 2026 tournament
“Andy Flower is one of the best coaches in the world,” Broad told Sky Sports News. “He’s done brilliantly with RCB to win back-to-back IPL titles. And he’s now gone to the London Spirit from the Trent Rockets.
“I support his decision, really. He’s got a very comfortable, steady job at the moment. He’s got two brilliant franchises that he works with consistently and he’s growing something very special.
“Would he want to leave that for the pressures of and the unknown of the ECB and the Test match job at the moment? Probably not.”
Broad added: “Five, 10 years ago, this was a very sought-after job. I think with the franchise world that surrounds cricket at the moment, it’s less attractive.
“But it’s still attractive to the right person, and there will be people keen to do that job.”
Justin Langer, Darren Lehmann and Jonathan Trott are some of the other names to have been linked with the England Test job.
Broad has “absolutely no idea” who the ECB turn to next, but warned that the “grass isn’t always greener” as they look to replace McCullum.
“I saw a very positive side to Brendon McCullum,” Broad said. “I’m not saying that results were acceptable at all, in the last year really.
“But unless you get someone better than McCullum, then it’s a poor decision. So I’m very interested to see what’s coming.
“I don’t know who’s on their shortlist. I heard [ECB chief executive] Richard Gould talk about succession planning, that they have six to 10 names for every role.
“I don’t know how true that can be if the first guy you go to says ‘no, I’m not interested.'”
‘Difficult for Brook to captain in all three formats’
England also have to name a replacement Test captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement during the series-ending Test defeat to New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June.
Harry Brook was Stokes’ vice-captain and is currently in charge of the white-ball sides, leading to workload concerns if he were to also take the Test job – along with how the move would look after Brook was disciplined during the winter following an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand the day before captaining an ODI.
“I think [captaining] three formats is difficult depending on how long you do it,” Broad said. “Ultimately, he’s one of our best players, so you want him fulfilling his potential with the bat.
“He’s done a brilliant job with the T20 side, particularly, and the question will be whether he wants to give that away with T20 World Cups that come around every couple of years?
“He’s also got a 50-over World Cup next October in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, in what will feel like English conditions and will suit them.
“Does he want to give that away to then focus on the Test match job, which brings its own challenges and pressures? There’s definitely more pressure in the Test match job than there is in white ball.
“It’s a really interesting call for [director of men’s cricket] Rob Key. There’s a lot on his shoulders at the minute.
“It’s been a disastrous start to the summer from his and England’s point of view after the so-called reset [following the 4-1 Ashes defeat in the winter].
“Really big decisions coming their way, and Harry Brook will probably have a decision to make at some stage.”
