England Test head coaching job ‘less attractive’, says Stuart Broad after Andy Flower turns down role | cricket news

Former England bowler Stuart Broad says he understands Andy Flower’s decision to turn down the England Test job and the ECB is unsure who to go with next, wondering if the role has become “less attractive”.

Brendon McCullum has been sacked as England’s Test coach After seven defeats in nine and Flower, who led the team to three Ashes series wins during his previous spell in charge between 2009 and 2014, quickly emerged as the favorite to replace him.

But Flower cited his current coaching commitments with Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, as well as The Hundreds London Spirit – which will overlap with the English cricket season – as reasons. Rule yourself out of controversy.

“Andy Flower is one of the best coaches in the world,” Broad said. Sky Sports News. “He has done brilliantly with RCB to win back-to-back IPL titles. And he has now moved to London Spirit from Trent Rockets.

“I really support his decision. He’s got a very comfortable, stable job at this point. He’s got two great franchises that he’s working with consistently and he’s growing something very special.

“Does he want to call it quits at the moment due to the pressures and unknowns of the ECB and Test match jobs? Probably not.”

Broad added: “Five, 10 years ago, it was a very sought-after job. I think with the franchise world around cricket at the moment, it’s less attractive.

“But it’s still attractive to the right person, and there will be people interested in doing that work.”

Justin Langer, Darren Lehmann and Jonathan Trott are a few others Name linked with England Test job.

Broad has “absolutely no idea” who the ECB will turn to next, but warned that “the grass is not always greener” as they look to replace McCullum.

“I saw a very positive side of Brendon McCullum,” Broad said. “I’m not saying the results have been acceptable at all, really in the last year.

“But unless you get someone better than McCullum, it’s a bad decision. So I’m very interested to see what’s coming.

“I don’t know who they have on their shortlist. I’ve heard (ECB chief executive) Richard Gould talk about succession planning, they have six to ten names for each role.

“I don’t know how true that can be if the first guy you go to is ‘No, I’m not interested’.”

‘Difficult for Brook to captain all three formats’

England will also have to name a replacement Test captain following the retirement of Ben Stokes during the series final Test defeat to New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June.

Harry Brooke was Stokes’ vice-captain and is currently in charge of the white-ball side, raising concerns about the workload if he were to take over in Tests – as well as how the move would compare to how Brooke was disciplined in the winter after an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand the day before an ODI captaincy.

Broad said, ‘I think all three formats (captain) are difficult depending on how long you do it. “Ultimately, he’s one of our best players, so you want him to fulfill his potential with the bat.

“He has done a great job with the T20 team, in particular, and the question will be whether he wants to deliver on that with the T20 World Cup that comes every two years?

“He’s also got a 50-over World Cup next October in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, which will feel like English conditions and will suit them.

“Does he want to focus on Test match work, which brings its own challenges and pressures? Test match work is definitely more stressful than the white ball.

“It’s a really interesting call for (director of men’s cricket) Rob Key. He’s got a lot on his shoulders at the moment.

“After the so-called reset (after the Ashes 4-1 loss in the winter) it was a disastrous start to the summer from his and England’s point of view.

“Really big decisions are coming their way, and Harry Brooke will probably make a decision at some stage.”