Andrew Strauss is on the verge of being appointed England’s first director of cricket in the newly revised role after the sacking of Paul Downton last month.
Strauss, 38, has spent almost three years away from the team since resigning as England’s Test captain in August 2012.
Strauss’s appointment would dent Kevin Pietersen’s hopes of making a comeback to the England Test team, given Strauss was overheard describing the batsman as an “absolute c—” last year. Whether Pietersen would have a chance of returning for the World T20 finals in Bangladesh next March – a format in which England rank even lower than in ODIs – remains to be seen.
Michael Vaughan has ruled himself out of the running to become England’s director of cricket. Vaughan was the first to declare his interest in the newly created position when it was announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison at the start of last month, following the decision to remove Paul Downton as managing director in the wake of the miserable World Cup campaign.
While details of the new role have been kept guarded by the ECB, a ‘skeleton’ job description was sent out to prospective candidates by headhunter Sports Recruitment International two weeks ago, with the former England captains Vaughan, Strauss and Alec Stewart among those known to have been contacted.
Vaughan has since met with Harrison and given his thoughts into how he believes it should be run, as well as offering input into the review of the English domestic structure and the possibility of a revamped Twenty20 tournament.
But with lucrative media commitments and differences of opinion as to how the role could work, the 40-year-old has decided the time is not right for him to take charge of the England team. – The Telegraph and The Guardian
GILLESPIE WAITING IN THE WINGS
Jason Gillespie has turned down the chance to coach South Australia, opening the door for him to replace Peter Moores, whose job as England coach is under major scrutiny after the West Indies levelled the series in Barbados on Sunday.
Gillespie agreed earlier this year to coach the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash and media reports said he had been approached to coach South Australia full-time, a move that would have meant him giving up his job at Yorkshire.
But Gillespie told South Australia on Saturday night that he will remain at Yorkshire, a decision that leaves him in pole position to replace Moores if the England and Wales Cricket Board decides a change is needed in the England coaching set-up.
It’s a decision that will be made by England’s new director of cricket, although the defeat in the Test match in Barbados will have an impact on that appointment. – The Telegraph
WINDIES LEVEL SERIES AGAINST WOEFUL ENGLAND
West Indies defied the odds and a wearing pitch to complete a series-levelling five-wicket victory over England on the third day of the third and final Test on Sunday in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Set a daunting target of 192 after the tourists were dismissed for 123 in their second innings, a 108-run fifth-wicket partnership between Darren Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood tilted the match decisively the Caribbean side’s way.
That allowed them to celebrate their first victory over England since the opening match of the 2009 series in Kingston, Jamaica. – AFP
