Will Andy Flower leave RCB for England Test coach role?

The England Cricket Board (ECB) has sacked Brendon McCullum as their Test coach. But he will remain in charge of their white-ball teams, as their Test team stays without a captain or a coach and comes barely three months after McCullum was publicly backed to continue despite their 4-1 defeat in the winter’s Ashes. Now, the question remains: if they go for Andy Flower, will the latter leave the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)?

Flower has been really successful with the franchise, winning two trophies in 2025 and 2026 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Gujarat Titans (GT). The RCB coach has done pretty well in recent times, as the former Zimbabwe star has been superb in getting the team to a stable position.

England aim to bring in Andy Flower as new Test coach after sacking Brendon McCullum

The ECB reckoned that the process to recruit the replacement for McCullum would start immediately, and the decision would mean a split coaching model that they used from 2022-2024 when Matthew Mott was in charge of their white-ball teams.

“I've absolutely loved coaching the Test side, and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together. There've been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that's all part of taking on a challenge like this. It's been a privilege and an honour, and I'm grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey.” McCullum expressed.

“I wish the Test team nothing but success. There's a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room, and they're a special bunch of lads. I'll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they'll continue to make people proud.” The former New Zealand captain addressed.

McCullum had questions on his future after the end of the third Test. That came before their victory over India in Southampton, which sealed a 4-0 clean sweep in the T20I series and took them to No.1 in the ICC’s rankings in the format.

Will Flower leave RCB after guiding back-to-back IPL title wins?

The reports have claimed that the ECB could go back to Flower to handle the Test side in the future. The veteran has earned massive success across the three formats of the game for England in the past.

Flower guided England to their first-ever global limited-overs trophy in the Caribbean during the T20 World Cup 2010. This was included in three consecutive Ashes series wins, where they got the victory at home in 2009, a historic 3-1 series win down under in 2010-11 (their first in Australia in nearly 25 years), and a 3-0 home win in 2013.

Under him, England went to the top of the ICC Test rankings in 2011, highlighted by a dominant 4-0 home series whitewash against India. In the spinning conditions of India, they won a 2-1 Test series victory in 2012-13, their first since 1984-85.

If Flower leaves, RCB will face the tough path of choosing a new coach before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027. However, the former head coach may think of doing it together, which may get really tough given the English summer clash with the IPL’s business end.