In England, the head coaching job is ‘not as attractive’ as it used to be, says Stuart Broad after Andy Flower turned it down | Cricket news

Former England skipper Stuart Broad says he understands Andy Flower’s decision to turn down the England Test job, and is not sure who the ECB is after, thinking the role is “not right”.

Brendon McCullum was sacked as England’s Test head coach after losing seven of nine and Flower, who led the team to three Ashes series victories during his tenure between 2009 and 2014, quickly emerged as the favorite to replace him.

But Flower cited his current coaching commitments with Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and The Hundred’s London Spirit – which will extend the English cricket season – as a reason for pulling out.

“Andy Flower is one of the best coaches in the world,” Broad said Sky Sports News. “He did well with RCB to win back-to-back IPL titles. And now he has gone to London Spirit from Trent Rockets.

“I support his decision, of course. He has a comfortable, stable career right now. He has two smart franchises that he works with consistently and he’s growing something very special.

“Would he want to leave that because of the pressure and the unknown of the ECB and the work of the Test match at the moment? Probably not.”

Broad added: “Five, 10 years ago, this was a very sought-after job. I think with the franchise around cricket at the moment, it’s not that attractive.

“But it’s still attractive to the right person, and there will be people willing to do that work.”

Justin Langer, Darren Lehmann and Jonathan Trott are among the names that have been linked with the England Test job.

Broad has “no idea at all” who the ECB is turning to next, but warned that “the grass is not always green” as they look to replace McCullum.

“I saw a good side to Brendon McCullum,” said Broad. “I am not saying that the results were acceptable at all, last year indeed.

“But unless you get someone better than McCullum, that’s a bad decision. So I’m very interested to see what comes next.

“I don’t know who is on their shortlist, I heard [ECB chief executive] Richard Gould talks about sequencing, that they have six to 10 words in every role.

“I don’t know how true that would be if the first guy you go to says ‘no, I’m not interested.’

‘Hard for Brook to captain all three formats’

England must also name a replacement Test captain following the retirement of Ben Stokes during their defeat to New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June.

Harry Brook was Stokes’ vice-captain and is currently in charge of the white-ball teams, leading to career concerns over whether he could take the Test job – and how the move will affect Brook, who is being disciplined over the winter following an altercation with a New Zealand nightclub player the day before he became ODI captain.

“I think [captaining] three formats are tough depending on how long you play,” Broad said. “Ultimately, he’s one of our best players, so you want him to fulfill his potential with batting.

“He has done a fantastic job in the T20 team, in particular, and the question will be whether he wants to be successful in a permanent T20 World Cup after a few years?

“He also has a 50-over World Cup next October in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, in a situation that will sound like English and will agree with them.

“Do you want to give that to him so that he can focus on the work of the Test match, which brings challenges and pressure? There is certainly more pressure in the work of the Test match than in the white ball.

“It’s a really interesting call [director of men’s cricket] Rob Key. There is a lot on his shoulders at the moment.

“It’s been a bad start to the summer from his point of view with England after the so-called reset. [following the 4-1 Ashes defeat in the winter].

“There are really big decisions coming up, and Harry Brook will probably have a decision to make at some point.”