Kevin Pietersen has sensationally backed the man who effectively ended his international career to become England’s next coach.
With change at the top being considered following the 4-1 Ashes thrashing overseen by Brendon McCullum, Pietersen has nominated Andy Flower to return to the role despite the irretrievable breakdown of their relationship as player and coach on England’s 2013-14 tour down under.
Pietersen and Flower did not see eye to eye throughout their five years together despite England enjoying considerable success as a team, becoming number one in the Test rankings for the first and only time and winning a maiden global trophy – the Twenty20 World Cup in 2010.
It led to Pietersen’s central contract being ripped up 12 years ago this month and Flower, now 57, resigning as head coach days later and taking up a role as the ECB’s technical director of coaching.
But taking to X on Friday morning, Pietersen wrote: ‘This is a WILD thought. I reckon one of my wildest. Can England bring back Andy Flower now that he’s changed and in line with the modern day player?
He gets Test cricket. I’ve been told by many players that he’s changed his ways since our drama. He’s winning leagues so really does get the modern day player. VERY IMPORTANT! Wild, I know! Thoughts?’
Pietersen has previously been highly critical of Zimbabwean Flower, branding him a mood hoover in the England dressing room.
Kevin Pietersen did not see eye to eye with Andy Flower when they were both with England
But Flower has carved out a successful career as a T20 coach since leaving the international scene, including winning the Hundred with Trent Rockets in 2022 and delivering a maiden Indian Premier League title after 18 seasons for Royal Challengers Bangalore last year, his second at the helm.
Those achievements have made him one of the most sought-after coaches on the global scene – he was recently snapped up by London Spirit to continue his working relationship with RCB’s director of cricket Mo Bobat – and cast some doubt on whether he would give up his current lucrative roles for a second go as a national head coach.
McCullum’s ECB contract runs until the end of the 2027 Ashes, but as England’s players left Australia, he admitted there may be ‘someone better’ for the job of head coach.
And his chances of staying in the job after next month’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka appear to be dependent on him amending his relaxed style of coaching, following talks with ECB chairman Richard Thompson and chief executive Richard Gould.
The two Richards are reluctant to oversee sweeping change, but accept that things cannot carry on as they have during this winter of ill discipline on and off the field.