Justin Langer and Andrew Flintoff have emerged as the main candidates to become England’s new Test head coach after Andy Flower ruled himself out of the running for the role.
Former Australia coach Langer and former England captain Flintoff are now the main names on a shortlist of candidates for the role vacated by the removal of Brendon McCullum following a home series defeat to New Zealand earlier this summer.
McCullum is still in charge of England’s white-ball teams, with the hosts securing a 4-0 T20I series win over India and currently tied 1-1 in the three-match ODI series with one game to play.
Flintoff would no doubt be a more popular appointment with England fans.
Flower feels he has enough on his plate coaching Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru as well as The Hundred side London Spirit.
The 58-year-old Zimbabwean led the England Test team to victory in three Ashes series during his previous spell in charge between 2009 and 2014 – and admits he ‘fondly remembers’ his time in the role.
Happy in existing roles
Flower has no interest in stepping back into the Test-match arena with England, saying on Sky Sports: “I have spoken with the ECB. We’re all aware of the vacancy for the head coach job of the England national team.
“I have spoken with [managing director] Rob [Key] and the ECB on that topic.
“The bottom line for me is that I’m very happy in the work that I’m doing at the moment.
“I work for a couple of really good organisations. I’ve got really good teams around me, really good people around me.
“I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing at the moment.”
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Had an amazing time
Flower continued: “I’ve worked with England before, as you all know.
“I had an amazing time when I had the privilege to be England head coach and represent England as one of their leaders a number of years ago. I remember those years really fondly.
“It would be a privilege for me or anyone else to be the Test coach.
“But for me, at this time, I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing.
“I’m going to stick with doing that.”
‘We all like clarity’
Flower added: “I don’t think I could have done both [jobs], especially with the IPL being held during the first couple of months of the English summer.
“If I was England Test coach, I would like to be here, watching and interacting.
“For me, that wasn’t a possibility.
“We all like clarity. Obviously there’ll be lots of debate over who might do the head coach role, but I won’t be part of that debate.
“It is nice to draw a little line under that. My focus is on this job [London Spirit].”
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Michael Davey 
SportJustSport writers