Next England Test coach: Flower, Trott and Langer – contenders to replace Brendon McCullum

England are considering six to 10 names in their search for Brendon McCullum’s replacement as Test head coach and will want someone in place for the series against Pakistan in August, ECB chief executive Richard Gould said.

McCullum was 44 years old. He was dismissed from the Red Ball coaching. Sunday after losing seven of their last nine tests.

England’s next Test is against Pakistan at Headingley on August 19, and the team is currently without a captain. Ben Stokes has announced his retirement In the series defeat in New Zealand at the end of June.

Gold told BBC Sport: “It’s going to be a targeted selection process. We usually do a lot of work in terms of succession planning – I always go through candidates for coaches and different positions and in reality this is probably a place where the shortlist is probably no more than six to 10 names of an international nature.”

“In terms of conversations, they’re starting to happen now and (managing director of men’s cricket) Rob Key will lead on those.”

Gould has confirmed that the England and Wales Cricket Board is looking to appoint a head coach and that person will have a say in the captaincy along with Key and national selector Marcus North.

The new coach will need to work with McCullum in his white-ball role to balance the interests of England cricket in a busy cricket calendar where players manage international and franchise commitments.

McCullum’s four-year reign as Test coach has seen England adopt an aggressive style of cricket, but Gould believes his replacement need not necessarily reflect that.

“When you look at the talent we’ve got and the talent we’ve got in the squad, it’s a team that’s been playing relatively aggressive cricket,” Gold said.

But there are always options for the style of play to change depending on what the coach wants and where the coach has those skills.

“It has to be an individual who complements the skills we’ve got in the players and brings out the best in them.”

While England will need to replace McCullum for the three-Test series against Pakistan, Gould admits a temporary solution could be devised.

“The individuals on our shortlist will have other commitments – they could be international cricket, they could be county cricket, they could be franchise cricket, and we have to work through those,” Gold said.

“If it allows us to reach a better decision on the back line, a temporary solution can be created.”

Gould added that England will adopt a model where a coach continues his commitment to the franchise alongside his playing role.