Rahul Dravid has reportedly entered the race to become England's next Test coach following the departure of Brendon McCullum, whose tenure ended after a disappointing run in the longest format.
A report in the Daily Telegraph said the former India captain is among the names being considered by the England and Wales Cricket Board, alongside former England coach Andy Flower and ex-England spinner Richard Dawson. McCullum's four-year spell as Test coach came to an end after England's 1-2 home series defeat to New Zealand, with the ECB concluding that "the time is right to make a change" ahead of next year's Ashes.
McCullum will continue as coach of England's ODI and T20I teams.
Dravid, 53, is regarded as an appealing candidate because of his "meticulous" coaching style and extensive knowledge of the game. During his time with India, he guided the team to the 2024 T20 World Cup title and the 2023 World Test Championship final.
The report, however, noted that the former India coach is not actively seeking a full-time coaching role.
"Dravid has no desire to coach full-time, but the England Test job would allow him extended periods at home and the chance to help keep alive his favourite format of the game. England, at the very least, should gauge his interest," according to the report.
Among the frontrunners is Zimbabwe great Andy Flower, widely regarded as England's most successful coach of the modern era after leading the national side to three Ashes series triumphs and the No. 1 spot in the Test rankings.
Flower has also built an impressive record in franchise cricket, including back-to-back Indian Premier League titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Richard Dawson, the current head coach of Glamorgan, is another strong contender. The report said he has earned recognition for his tactical expertise and coaching achievements at both county and international levels.
The list of possible successors also includes Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara, England Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson and former Australia coach Justin Langer.
