Monty Panesar has called for England to reappoint former head coach Andy Flower in a bid to address their recent poor form in Test cricket.
England have won just one of their last 17 Test matches and failed to win any of their last five series for their first time ever in their history. Chris Silverwood was axed as head coach following a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Australia in the Ashes and new Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key will be tasked with finding his replacement.
And former spinner Panesar, who took 167 Test wickets in 50 appearances, believes England should turn to Flower. The 53-year-old coached England between 2009 and 2014, with his side becoming the number one ranked Test team in the world and winning the Ashes away from home for the first time in 24 years.
Taking to Twitter, Panesar wrote: "When Andy Flower was England coach, it was the only time in the history of English cricket the team gained number 1 Test status. IMO bring him back, he will know how to build an English team and bring success to England #England #EnglandCricketTeam #BenStokes #barmyarmy #Cricket"
Former England opener Nick Compton has also floated the possibility of Flower being reappointed. He told Sky Sports News in February: "Long-term, Andy Flower had huge success with England.
"Okay, things didn't perhaps finish the way he would have liked but he has gone away to franchise cricket and is now wiser and older. He is a ruthless individual, a tough man who would not be afraid to call things out, make some of the changes and bring order back."
Flower remained part of the ECB setup after stepping down as head coach in 2014, before leaving in 2019 to coach on the franchise circuit. However, it appears unlikely he will return to the role, with other names like Gary Kirsten, Justin Langer, Mahela Jayawardene and Ricky Ponting widely reported as being under consideration.
Rob Key, who was recently named Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, will be tasked with appointing Silverwood's replacement and he is expected to split the role between red and white ball cricket. And he has previously spoken of Ponting and Jayawardene as two ideal candidates.
"What England need is a savvy, tough tactician," he told Sky Sports. "Someone with gravitas and credibility who will stand up to the ECB when they let players stay too long at the IPL. Top of my list would be Ricky Ponting, but it would cost millions to get him to work for the old enemy. What about Mahela Jayawardene to run our Test side?"
