England’s Test team is without a head coach for the first time since 2022. Brendon McCullum was sacked from the red ball role on July 12, 2026, after a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and a home series loss to New Zealand. He stays on as white ball coach, but the Test job is now vacant just weeks before the Pakistan series begins on August 19, 2026.
The timing is tricky. England lost their captain and coach within two weeks of each other, since Ben Stokes retired from international cricket right before McCullum’s exit. The ECB now has to find a replacement fast.
Here are the top names being talked about, along with their records and how likely each one is to get the job.
Why Did England Sack Brendon McCullum?
Before looking at the candidates, it helps to know why the job is open.
According to ECB chief executive Richard Gould, the board felt the time was right to make a change for the Test team with the Ashes targeted for next summer.
McCullum’s Test record stands at 25 wins from 44 matches, but results dipped badly after the 2023 Ashes, including seven losses in the last nine Tests.
Who Are the Top Candidates for England Test Coach?
1. Andy Flower
Flower is the name most people keep coming back to. He already has a proven track record in the exact job.
- Head coach of England from 2009 to 2014
- Won the Ashes at home twice, in 2009 and 2013
- Led England to a 3-1 Ashes win in Australia in 2010-11, their first series win there in decades
- Guided England to number one in the ICC Test rankings in 2011
- Currently coaching Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, where he has delivered back to back titles in 2025 and 2026
Probability: High (around 30-35 percent). He is the standout name mentioned across British media, though it is unclear if he wants to leave the lucrative franchise circuit for a return to international cricket.
2. Rahul Dravid
The most surprising name to emerge, and one confirmed by an actual shortlist report rather than pundit speculation.
- Named on a Daily Telegraph shortlist alongside Andy Flower and Richard Dawson
- Former India captain and one of the greatest Test batters of all time
- Coached India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title and guided the side to the 2023 World Test Championship final
- Known for a calm, meticulous, technically sharp coaching style suited to red ball cricket
- Reports state he has “no desire to coach full-time,” though the England Test job would let him stay involved in the format without a year-round workload
Probability: Low to moderate (around 10 percent). England are reportedly expected to at least gauge his interest, but his own reluctance to take a full-time role makes him a long shot rather than a favorite.
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3. Richard Dawson
Dawson is one of the strongest domestic options and has real coaching results behind him.
- Head coach of Glamorgan, guiding them to promotion into Division One of the County Championship in 2025
- Former England spinner with international playing experience
- Rated highly by pundits and cited by BBC reports as a serious contender
Probability: Moderate (around 15-20 percent). A homegrown option who ticks the boxes on results, though he lacks experience at international level.
4. Gareth Batty
Batty is the other county name repeatedly linked with the role.
- Head coach of Surrey, finishing runners up in the County Championship in 2025
- Long playing career as an England spinner across multiple formats
- Known for developing young talent at one of the country’s biggest clubs
Probability: Moderate (around 15 percent). Surrey’s consistency under him makes a strong case, but stepping up straight to international Test cricket is a big jump.
5. Ricky Ponting or Justin Langer
Both former Australia captains have been mentioned as outside options in past cycles and resurface again now.
- Ponting and Langer both have deep coaching and leadership experience across international and franchise cricket
- Langer has previously coached Australia’s national team
- Neither has any confirmed direct link to this specific vacancy yet, and hiring an Australian to coach England ahead of an Ashes series would be a bold and unusual call
Probability: Low (under 10 percent). More of a fan theory than a live candidacy at this stage, given the optics of an Ashes year appointment.
When Will England Announce Their New Test Coach?
There is no confirmed date yet. The ECB will want a decision before the Pakistan Test series starting August 19, 2026, since the team also needs a new permanent Test captain, with Harry Brook widely tipped for that role. Expect an announcement within the coming weeks.
ALSO READ: Why Did Ben Stokes Announce a Sudden Retirement From International Cricket?
Final Thoughts
Andy Flower remains the name to beat given his historical success in this exact job, but the ECB has shown before that it likes homegrown appointments, which keeps Richard Dawson and Gareth Batty firmly in the conversation. Andrew Flintoff is the wildcard with insider knowledge of the pipeline, while an Australian appointment feels unlikely so close to an Ashes series.
This situation is developing quickly, so check official ECB channels for the latest confirmed updates.
Lucky Raina is a complete cricket writer chasing corporate dreams by day and cricket stories by night. Once a promising Under 16 cricketer, life took him down a different pitch but the love for the game never left.
