Andy Flower has ruled out the possibility of returning as England’s Test head coach, saying it would be impossible to combine the role with his current commitments as Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach.
Speaking during the London Spirit media day, the former England coach confirmed he was not in contention for the vacant position following Brendon McCullum’s departure.
“I have, yes,” Flower said when asked if he had ruled himself out of the role.
Flower explained that taking charge of England’s Test team while continuing with RCB would not be practical, especially with the IPL now overlapping with the English summer.
“For me, personally, I don’t think I could have both, especially with the IPL being held in the first couple of months of the English summer,” he said. “If I was England Test coach, I would like to be here, watching and interacting with the people I need to watch and interact with. For me that wasn’t a possibility.”
The 57-year-old confirmed he has spoken to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) about the vacancy but is content with his current coaching roles.
“I have spoken to the ECB; I am aware of the head coach vacancy of the England national team. I have spoken with Rob [Key, managing director of England Men’s cricket] at the ECB on that topic.
“The bottom line for me is I’m very happy in the work that I’m doing at the moment. I work for a couple of really good organisations, with really good teams around me, and I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing at the moment,” he said.
Flower previously served as England’s assistant coach in 2007 before taking over as head coach from 2009 to 2014, a period during which England rose to the top of the Test rankings.
Reflecting on that stint, Flower said he still cherishes those years but has no plans to return.
“I’ve worked with England before and I had an amazing time. I had the privilege to be the England head coach and represent England a number of years ago, and I remember those years really fondly.
“It would be a privilege for me or anyone else to be the Test coach. For me at this time, I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing, and I’m going to stick with doing that,” he added.
England’s next Test begins against Pakistan at Headingley on August 19, leaving the ECB with around a month to appoint McCullum’s successor.