Former England batter Kevin Pietersen has floated a bold suggestion in the wake of England’s disastrous Ashes 2025–26 campaign, recommending the return of Andy Flower as head coach to replace Brendon McCullum. England’s 1–4 series defeat in Australia has triggered intense scrutiny of the team’s leadership, with both McCullum and captain Ben Stokes now under pressure following another failed Ashes tour Down Under.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already confirmed a comprehensive review of the Ashes campaign, putting the future of the current red-ball setup firmly in the spotlight. With Stokes himself hinting that the aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach may have reached its limits, speculation is growing that England could consider a change in coaching direction ahead of the next World Test Championship cycle.
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Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pietersen described his idea as a “wild thought” but one worth exploring. He suggested that Flower, despite their well-documented differences during their time together in the England dressing room, could now be the right man for the job. Pietersen believes the former Zimbabwe captain has evolved significantly and is better aligned with the modern-day player.
“This is a WILD thought. I reckon one of my wildest,” Kevin Pietersen wrote. “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.”
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…— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) January 9, 2026
Flower’s credentials as a red-ball coach remain strong. During his tenure as England head coach from 2009 to 2014, he oversaw one of the most successful periods in the country’s Test history.
England famously reclaimed the Ashes in Australia in 2010–11 with a dominant 3–1 series win and also registered a historic Test series victory in India. Andy Flower also guided England to their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2010.
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Since stepping away from the England role, Flower has built an impressive reputation in franchise cricket. He has won the Pakistan Super League with Multan Sultans in 2021 and recently played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 triumph. His success across global T20 leagues has strengthened the belief that he now understands modern players better than ever — a quality Pietersen believes England desperately need as they reassess their red-ball future.
