Andy Flower will coach London Spirit’s men’s side from 2026, the former England head coach linking up again with director of cricket Mo Bobat after the pair guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first IPL crown in April.
Spirit’s hierarchy, reshaped by the arrival of the MCC-backed “Tech Titans” consortium, opted not to renew Justin Langer’s one-year deal after a seventh-place finish in this year’s Hundred. Bobat, appointed soon after the takeover, moved quickly for Flower, persuading him to walk away from Trent Rockets and sign a multi-season contract at Lord’s.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure Andy’s services as our men’s head coach,” Bobat said. “Andy and I have enjoyed a strong working relationship in the past, and I’m looking forward to building something special with him at London Spirit as we enter this new and exciting phase for the franchise.”
Flower, who spent five years at the Rockets and lifted the title in 2022, called the switch both an honour and a fresh challenge. He explained: He was “deeply grateful” to have worked at Trent Bridge and “hugely excited” about the move south. “It’s a real privilege to be part of such an iconic venue and organisation. I’m also thrilled to be working once again with Mo, and for the first time with both MCC and the Tech Titans.”
London Spirit’s women lifted the trophy in 2024, but the men have struggled since the Hundred’s inception, winning just 12 of 38 completed matches. Langer’s overhaul, which included handing the captaincy to Kane Williamson and pairing him with David Warner at the top of the order, produced only three victories from eight fixtures.
Behind the scenes, the new joint-venture board blends tradition with Silicon Valley wealth. MCC keeps a 51 per cent share and four seats, naming former Tottenham Hotspur executive Donna-Maria Cullen alongside Julian Metherell, Rob Lawson and Eoin Morgan. The consortium’s representatives are Nikesh Arora, Satyan Gajwani and Egon Durban.
Brand tweaks are on the winter agenda. The Spirit name stays, but MCC’s egg-and-bacon colours could appear as trim on next season’s kit. Elsewhere, the Hundred’s wider ownership changes are nearing completion, with deals involving Trent Rockets (Nottinghamshire/Cain-Ares) and Oval Invincibles (Surrey/Reliance) due to be ratified later this month.
For Flower, attention now shifts to squad retention and the February draft, tasks complicated by a reduced overseas purse and an under-performing batting group. Yet his track record—England’s 2010-11 Ashes triumph, PSL and ILT20 titles, plus that recent IPL success—suggests Spirit’s long-term prospects have improved.
