England have a new managing director of England men’s cricket in Rob Key, but what about the head coach and captain vacancies in Test cricket? From Justin Langer to Mahela Jayawardene and Ben Stokes to Sam Billings, we take a look at some of the top candidates for both jobs…
Ben Stokes? Justin Lang? Sam Billings? Who could become England’s next manager and captain?
Following the appointment of Rob Key as the new managing director of England’s men’s cricket, the focus now turns to the two biggest jobs that immediately await him in his new role.
I mean, who will be England’s new head coach? And who will be the new test team captain after Joe Root stepped down from his role last week?
Here’s a look at some of the top contenders for both seats as Key’s term unfolds…
First of all, Key has to decide if England splits the role of head coach for the red ball and the white ball.
Langer is well-qualified in any capacity, and the way he led Australia in spectacular fashion to victory at the 2021 T20 World Cup and then an emphatic Ashes 4-0 win over England a few months later suggests he could be. the ideal date under a broader brief.
However, Langer’s success came at a price. He resigned in February after turning down a short-term extension to stay in the job and amid rumors of growing concern from players about his coaching style.
key even said sky sports at the time: “He’s a bit of a tough foreman, but they’ve come back from the sandpaper gate, they’ve won the T20 World Cup and they’ve won the Ashes handily.”
He is indeed a tough taskmaster, but could that be precisely what this England team needs?
It seems that Kirsten has always been on the edge of the job cliff in England, having previously applied in 2015 and 2019 before ultimately losing out to Trevor Bayliss and Chris Silverwood.
Her credentials speak for themselves, with Kirsten guiding India to victory at the 2011 World Cup before leading her native South Africa to the top of the Test standings a year later.
One potential hurdle is the fact that Kirsten has not coached internationally since leaving Proteas in 2013 due to family commitments, and has since emphasized that she would only return as a split coach.
But the Test job certainly draws him in, with Kirsten telling the i newspaper in December: “Its test side has struggled for a while, but it would be a really lovely project to get it up and running.
“There are a lot of things that need to be put in place to build this Test team. Perhaps the time has come for England to say Test cricket is their focus.”
A slightly more left field contender could be Sri Lankan heavy hitter Jayawardene.
Although he lacks head coaching experience at the international level, Jayawardene has established himself as one of the best emerging coaches in the world by winning three IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians since 2017, while also leading Southern Brave to victory in the first season. of the Hundred.
He has suitably impressed Key, as he said sky sports previously: “Someone like Mahela Jayawardene would be perfect if you’re looking for someone from abroad.”
His credentials may point to him being more of an option for the cue ball side. However, Jayawardene impressed in a batting consultant role with the England team during the 2015-16 winter and recently signed on for a similar role with the Sri Lanka organisation.
Given England’s recent batting difficulties in red ball cricket, they could do worse than hand over the reins to a man with 11,814 runs to his name in Tests.
Paul Collingwood he is probably the leading English candidate, having served as interim head coach on the most recent tour of the West Indies. He is highly regarded at the ECB, although his links to the previous regime as assistant coach could work against him.
ricky ponting Key himself had previously pitched him for the role, but even admitted convincing the proud Aussie to take the job might be another matter.
said key sky sports: “You talk about the international experience, the class that he has, the ideal person is someone who would not want to do the job for love or money, someone like Ricky Ponting”.
Stephen Fleming. The New Zealand manager is another who has built an excellent reputation at the franchise’s various tournaments around the world, and his appointment would continue the theme of England looking to the example set by New Zealand after his approach helped inspire their restart. of the red ball. in 1999 and cue ball change in 2015.
Root’s vice-captain and the obvious choice to replace him.
