England's next Test head coach: Andrew Flintoff, Justin Langer, Jonathan Trott among names tipped to replace Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum's departure from the role of England Test head coach leaves the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with a huge gap to fill ahead of a crucial home Ashes series next summer.

McCullum took charge in the spring of 2022 and quickly restored belief in England's Test side, winning 11 of his first 13 matches. But a disappointing 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, followed by eight losses in the team's last 12 Tests, brought the 'Bazball' era to an end and left England searching for a new red-ball coach.

A plethora of names from home and abroad have been tipped to replace him - but who is in the running?

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Justin Langer

Former Australia coach Justin Langer will probably feature at the top of most lists.

Langer recorded 15 wins, 11 losses and 5 draws in his time in charge of the Baggy Greens, retaining the Ashes on British soil with Australia in 2019.

Langer has been out of the international limelight, ironically, since the start of Bazball but has been in charge of Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL since July 2023, as well as a brief stint managing the London Spirit of the Hundred in 2025.

He is someone who knows the English domestic game well, playing for Middlesex and Somerset in the County Championship as a player.

Andrew Flintoff

Former England captain Andrew Flintoff is the current coach of the England Lions and has also stepped in to assist with white-ball duties on recent occasions.

He would be a ready-made internal promotion for the ECB and would need little handover in terms of getting to know the talent at his disposal.

Flintoff also remains close friends with England men's managing director Rob Key from their playing days, giving the pair a long-standing relationship and an established working dynamic.

If appointed, deciding who he wants as the next Test captain is likely to be the first task on his agenda.

It may also require some negotiation by the ECB after the former all-rounder agreed last month to become Sydney Thunder's new head coach in Australia's Big Bash League.

Stephen Fleming

One New Zealander out, another one in?

Former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming was a team-mate of McCullum's during his stellar Test career in which he averaged just over 40 with the bat.

The 53-year-old stood down on Monday as Chennai Super Kings head coach after an 18-year association with the franchise as both a player and coach, which included winning a record five IPL titles.

Like others, another who will be familiar with the county set up from his time as playing for Middlesex, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, who he captained to the County Championship title in 2005.

Gareth Batty

Surrey's head coach Gareth Batty could also be thrown into the ring in the same bracket.

Batty led Surrey to three consecutive County Championship titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and boasts an impressive coaching record under director of cricket Alec Stewart, who was among the names to be tipped as a potential replacement for Rob Key.

The former England off-spinner is another who would know the player pool well having either coached them directly or plotted how to get the better of them as opponents, with current England players Jamie Smith and Matt Fisher under his leadership at the Oval, as well as former Test No 3 Ollie Pope.

Jonathan Trott

Former England batter Jonathan Trott's most recent botable role was as Afghanistan head coach earlier this year.

The 45-year-old stood down from the job after the T20 World Cup and has recently taken up a short-term role with Ireland's men's side as a consultant for their series against his former employers.

Trott would certainly be a marked departure from McCullum's style for those who remember his gritty and obdurate innings at No 3 that helped England's march to world No 1.

But he is another who has made a notable impression in his relatively short coaching career, leading his Afghanistan side to the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Mickey Arthur

Mickey Arthur has bags of experience at international level having coached his native South Africa as well as Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka over the past 20 years.

But the current Derbyshire head coach may prefer to stay out of the limelight and continue building on his hard work from the past five years.

He signed a new two-year deal with Derbyshire in February, but could be tempted by a high-profile return to the Test arena.

Darren Lehmann

Former Australia batter and head coach Darren Lehmann also falls into the same category as the current Northamptonshire coach.

Working in Lehmann's favour is the fact he masterminded two Ashes series victories over England just over a decade ago.

That came before his tenure in charge of Australia ended abruptly amid the sandpaper-gate scandal that embroiled former captain Steve Smith and batter David Warner, with the former stripped of his Test captaincy as a result.

Considering England's recent off-field struggles, hiring a figure as controversial as Lehmann feels unlikely.

Who's already said no?

One man who won't be succeeding McCullum is former England head coach Andy Flower.

The Zimbabwean was previously at the helm as the Test side made it to No 1 in the world and secured a famous away Ashes series win in 2011.

But the current London Spirit and Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach confirmed he had ruled himself out of contention following discussions with director of men's cricket Rob Key.

"I have spoken with the ECB," he told reporters on Friday. "We're all aware of the vacancy.

"I have spoken with Rob 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."

Flower, 58, also spent five years in charge of the England Lions before enjoying a series of successful coaching roles on the T20 franchise circuit, including leading RCB to back-to-back IPL titles.

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England vs India results and fixtures

All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports

• First T20 (Durham) - Match abandoned
• Second T20 (Old Trafford) - England won by four wickets
• Third T20 (Trent Bridge) - England won by 125 runs
• Fourth T20 (Bristol) - England won by nine wickets
• Fifth T20 (Southampton) - England won by 56 runs
• First ODI (Edgbaston - India won by six wickets
• Second ODI (Cardiff) - England won by four wickets
• Third ODI (Lord's) - Sunday July 19 (11am)

Watch Tuesday's first ODI between England and India at Edgbaston live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.30am (11am first ball). Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW.