McCullum’s four-year tenure came to an end after overseeing England’s aggressive “Bazball” era. Under his leadership, England played 49 Tests, winning 27, losing 20, and drawing two. However, a disappointing run of results—including defeats in seven of their last 10 Tests, a 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia, and a 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand—prompted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to begin searching for a new direction.
According to a report by the Daily Telegraph, Dravid is among the names being considered for the vacant position. The former India captain enjoyed a highly successful coaching stint with the Indian team, guiding them to the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup title while also leading the side to the finals of the 2023 ICC World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Dravid’s calm leadership, tactical discipline, and deep understanding of Test cricket have reportedly made him an attractive option for the ECB. However, the report also claimed that the Indian legend is not currently interested in returning to a full-time coaching role.
“Dravid has no desire to coach full-time, but the England Test job would allow him extended periods at home and the chance to help keep alive his favourite format of the game. England, at the very least, should gauge his interest,” the report stated.
Former England coach Andy Flower has also emerged as one of the frontrunners for the position. Flower, currently head coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, guided the franchise to back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026 after ending their long wait for a championship.
Reports suggest the ECB is open to allowing its next Test coach to combine international responsibilities with Indian Premier League commitments, potentially strengthening Flower’s candidacy.
Several other high-profile names have also been linked with the vacancy, including Richard Dawson, Kumar Sangakkara, Andrew Flintoff, Mike Hesson, and Justin Langer.
With England entering a crucial phase ahead of next year’s Ashes, the ECB is expected to carefully evaluate its options before appointing the next leader of the men’s Test team.
