Andy Flower, England’s No 1 choice to replace Brendon McCullum as Test coach, will not consider the job if he is asked to give up coaching in franchise cricket.
As first reported by The i Paper on Sunday, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is determined to land Flower after sacking McCullum as Test coach.
But it is understood the Zimbabwean, who led England to No 1 in the Test rankings in 2011 and pulled off landmark series wins in Australia and India when in charge between 2009 and 2014, is not prepared to sever his links with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League or London Spirit in The Hundred.
It is why ECB chief executive Richard Gould admitted on Sunday that the governing body is prepared to be flexible and allow any new appointment to continue working in franchise cricket while coaching England.
Rob Key, who has survived as director of cricket despite England’s dire recent Test form, is overseeing the new appointment which the ECB hopes to have in place by the start of the next Test series against Pakistan on 19 August.
