England cricket is entering a new chapter. Brendon McCullum has left his role as men's Test head coach, ending the four-year "Bazball" era, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is now searching for the man to lead the red-ball side into a home Ashes series next summer.
The early names in the frame make for a fascinating list. Former India head coach Rahul Dravid, ex-England coach Andy Flower, Glamorgan's Richard Dawson, Kumar Sangakkara, Andrew Flintoff, Justin Langer and Mike Hesson have all been linked with the job, according to a Daily Telegraph report.
Why England pulled the plug on Bazball
McCullum's exit was all about results.
When he took over in 2022 alongside captain Ben Stokes, the change was instant. England won 11 of his first 13 Tests, playing a fearless, attacking brand of cricket that brought the crowds back and gave the team belief.
But the past two years have been brutal. England lost eight of their last 12 Tests. A 4-1 Ashes hammering in Australia last winter put his job under serious pressure, and he somehow survived it — but a 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand was the final straw. Overall, McCullum leaves with 27 wins and 20 defeats from 49 Tests.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould said the decision was based purely on results, and that the time was right to make a change with the Ashes coming next summer. Managing director Rob Key, who appointed McCullum four years ago, keeps his job and will lead the search for a successor.
There is a twist, though. McCullum is not leaving England altogether — he stays on as white-ball coach and is contracted through the 2027 World Cup. And he does so on a high, having just guided England to a 4-0 T20I sweep of India and the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. It is the Test job alone that needs a new voice, with the ECB going back to separate coaches for red-ball and white-ball cricket.
Rahul Dravid: the surprise name
The biggest talking point on the shortlist is Rahul Dravid.
The former India coach is respected everywhere for his calm manner, his sharp planning and his record of developing young players. Under him, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup and reached the finals of the 2023 World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup.
But there is a big catch. The Telegraph report says Dravid has no wish to return to full-time coaching. The England Test job might still tempt him, though, because it is red-ball only — fewer matches than an all-format role, longer breaks at home, and a chance to stay involved in the format he loves most. The report suggests England should at least ask the question.
For now, there is no confirmation that the ECB has approached him, or that he would say yes.
Andy Flower: the favourite
Andy Flower is widely seen as the front-runner, and his credentials speak for themselves. He took England to No. 1 in the Test rankings and won three Ashes series, including the famous 2010-11 triumph in Australia. He has since become one of the most in-demand coaches in franchise cricket, winning back-to-back IPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and 2026.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain has backed him strongly, saying Flower is the best man for the job by a distance and praising the attention to detail that England's Test side has been missing.
The obvious question is whether Flower would give up RCB. Interestingly, that may not even be necessary — according to an ESPN report, the ECB is willing to let its next Test coach hold a dual role, as the IPL only runs for two months and rarely clashes with England's Test schedule.
The bigger issue may be time. Dinesh Karthik, who works alongside Flower at RCB, said he would be surprised if Flower took the job. He rates him as one of the best coaches in the world, but questions whether he could give England everything they need in a packed season — especially with the Ashes to prepare for.
The other contenders
Several more names are in the mix, each offering something different:
Richard Dawson – the Glamorgan head coach, admired for his tactical thinking and county work
Kumar Sangakkara – a modern great with strong franchise coaching experience
Andrew Flintoff – currently in charge of the England Lions and a ready-made internal option, with a long-standing friendship with Rob Key
Justin Langer – an Ashes-winning coach with Australia who knows English cricket well
Mike Hesson – experienced international coach with a strong reputation
When will England name their new coach?
The ECB has not set a firm date, but there is a clear deadline in view. England's next Test assignment is a three-match home series against Pakistan, starting at Headingley on August 19.
Gould has said the board would ideally have someone in place by then, but he also admitted an interim coach may be needed — the timing clashes with franchise tournaments and international fixtures around the world, and the ECB is not willing to rush a decision it must get right.
Whoever gets the job inherits a side full of talent but short on results, and one clear brief: win back the Ashes at home next summer.
Flower is the favourite. Dravid is the wildcard. Flintoff is the internal pick. Whichever way Rob Key goes, this may be the most important coaching call English cricket has made in a decade.
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