New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has ruled himself out of contention for England’s vacant Test coaching role, ending speculation of a potential return to the national team after Brendon McCullum’s exit. Flower, who was the leading contender to replace McCullum as England’s Test head coach, said that he was happy with his current coaching jobs and had no plans to leave the IPL franchise.

“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. 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,” Flower said.

He has been England’s head coach from 2009 to 2014, during which the Three Lions lifted their first T20 World Cup trophy in 2010, and also won the Ashes in Australia. But Flower lost his job after the 2014 Ashes whitewash.

The former Zimbabwe cricketer has admitted he’s been in contact with the ECB but is very happy with the work he’s doing at the moment.

“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.

“I’ve worked with England before and I had an amazing time. I had the privilege to be England head coach and represent England a number of years ago and I remember those years really fondly,” Flower added. He further added that it would be a privilege for him or anyone else to be the Test coach, but he’s comfortable with what he’s doing.

The ECB decided to sack McCullum as England’s Test head coach on July 12, bringing an end to the four-year tenure. He reshaped the team’s identity after taking charge in 2022 but ultimately failed to deliver an Ashes triumph, either home or away. However, the former New Zealand captain will continue as England’s white-ball coach.