Former England captain Michael Atherton has thrown his weight behind Andy Flower to replace Matthew Mott as England men's head white-ball coach as 'undoubtedly the outstanding candidate'.
Flower previously coached England across formats from 2009-2014, taking them to the No.1 ranked Test side in the world for the first time as well as overseeing their 3-1 Ashes win in Australia in 2010/11. He also presided over England men's first white-ball World Cup win, when they won the men's T20 World Cup for the first time in 2010.
"No man ever steps in the same river twice," wrote Michael Atherton in a column for The Times. "It rarely makes sense in sport, nor in life, to trace back one’s steps but I wonder whether Andy Flower could be persuaded to dip his toes into the water again with England? He is undoubtedly the outstanding candidate to replace Matthew Mott."
The ECB announced that Mott had stepped down from his role as white-ball head coach yesterday (July 30), following double white-ball World Cup disasters over the last 10 months. England finished in seventh place in the 2023 Cricket World Cup and lost the semi-final of the T20 World Cup to India last month.
Among the list of favourites to take over the role are Jonathan Trott, Mike Hussey, and Marcus Trescothick (who has been appointed interim head coach). Flower has remained a relatively outside bet.
"He transformed Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League; has won the Abu Dhabi T10; he took a St Lucia side to the final of the Caribbean Premier League for the first time; and won the Hundred with Trent Rockets," wrote Atherton. "Although the comings and goings of the franchise circuit demands different skills than a national team, the bitty nature of the white-ball job carries similarities.
"Along with Duncan Fletcher, Flower was one of England’s two best coaches of the modern era, at a time before the schedule made it impossible to coach both Test and white-ball teams. He took England to the top of the world rankings in Test cricket by driving a hard bargain with his players and won England’s first global white-ball tournament in 2010. He was tough, uncompromising and successful."
Following his resignation after his first stint as England head coach, Flower's leadership style was criticised as 'intense'. He coached England during Kevin Pietersen's acrimonious departure from the team, with Pietersen later asserting that Flower's style had led to divisions in the dressing room.
"Flower has changed, too," wrote Atherton. "He is said to have mellowed somewhat in his approach. Possibly this is because of age; possibly because of the power that players now hold. They have many more options than when Flower was involved with England; the IPL had started — and may have played its part in driving a wedge between him and Kevin Pietersen — but franchise leagues have proliferated since then.
"He is vastly more experienced than he was then; more able, perhaps, to vary his approach according to the demands of the different jobs he holds. Franchise roles require coaches to think short-term, rather than the developmental long-term role he had previously with England. This variety of roles will have broadened his experience and his exposure."
Since leaving England, Flower has found coaching roles in franchise leagues around the world and has also coached the England Lions. However, Atherton acknowledged Flower's franchise jobs could prove a 'sticking point' in potential negotiations to return as England head coach.
"Would Flower be interested? Could he be persuaded? International jobs are not as sought after as they were and a sticking point could be the IPL, where Flower coaches RCB," wrote Atherton. "But why would doing both be necessarily ruled out? There is no international cricket during the IPL window and coaching in the IPL can only be of benefit, keeping an eye on trends and players as they emerge. A degree of flexibility seems the likeliest way of securing a top-notch coach."
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