England cricket’s wanted list: two head coaches and a Test captain

England all-rounder Ben Stokes

(Image credit: Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s set to be a very busy few months for English men’s cricket – on and off the pitch. After defeats in Australia and the West Indies, major personnel changes are taking place with coaching, managerial and captaincy positions becoming vacant.

Joe Root calls time on his England Test cricket captaincy

This summer the home fixture list starts with a three-Test series against New Zealand, followed by Test, one-day and Twenty20 matches against India and South Africa. The busy international schedule has “increased the need for splitting the coaching roles”, said BBC Sport. And the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has this week announced that it’s looking to recruit separate head coaches for the men’s Test and white-ball teams.

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Former head coach Chris Silverwood had previously been in charge of all formats, but he was sacked after the 4-0 Ashes thrashing Down Under. With adverts now formally placed by the ECB for two roles, England will “revert to a split-coaching structure for the first time in eight years”, said Matt Roller on ESPNcricinfo. The decision to split the coaching role in two had been “widely anticipated” since Key’s appointment. The application process closes on 6 May and interviews will be scheduled for 9-10 May.

Key has not yet made any official approaches to coaches but “contenders are emerging”, Sky Sports News reported. Former India and South Africa head coach Gary Kirsten and ex-Surrey, Sri Lanka and Ireland coach Graham Ford have expressed their interest, while former Australia batter Simon Katich is also in contention. Despite being linked, Australians Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer are “not in the frame for either of the head coach positions being advertised”, Sky Sports News added.

Stokes, who was vice-captain for the majority of Root’s time in charge, has expressed his desire to recall fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad to the side after England’s two leading wicket-takers were left out of the West Indies tour. Stokes is “adamant” he wants Broad and Anderson “back in harness this summer”, Hoult added. And not just for a “sentimental farewell for two legends”.

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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.