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

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.

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.

One change that has already happened is Rob Key being appointed as managing director of England men’s cricket. The search for a new Test captain is also underway following Joe Root’s resignation after five years in the role.

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Contenders are emerging

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 set to be announced

Ben Stokes has been widely tipped to replace Root as skipper. And according to The Mirror’s Dean Wilson the all-rounder will “lead England out” against New Zealand at Lord’s as the new Test captain after being “offered the job” by Key. Stokes, 32, was “honoured to accept the role” and to “start a new era for the misfiring side”, Wilson said.

Key and Stokes met for “face to face talks” for the first time since the new director of cricket’s appointment, said Nick Hoult in The Telegraph. Stokes’s captaincy will now go to the ECB for “final rubber stamping”. Tomorrow, Key is due to hold his first press conference at Lord’s and could announce Stokes’s “widely anticipated appointment”.

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”.

England men’s 2022 summer fixtures

England vs. New Zealand Test series

• 2-6 June: Lord’s
• 10-14 June: Trent Bridge
• 23-27 June: Emerald Headingley

England vs. India Test match

• 1-5 July: Edgbaston

England vs. India IT20 Series

• 7 July: Ageas Bowl
• 9 July: Edgbaston
• 10 July: Trent Bridge

England vs. India one-day series

• 12 July: Kia Oval
• 14 July: Lord’s
• 17 July: Emirates Old Trafford

England vs. South Africa one-day series

• 19 July: Riverside
• 22 July: Emirates Old Trafford
• 24 July: Headingley

England vs. South Africa international Twenty20 series

• 27 July: The Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
• 28 July: Sophia Gardens
• 31 July: Ageas Bowl

England vs. South Africa Test series

• 17-21 August: Lord’s
• 25-29 August: Emirates Old Trafford
• 8-12 September: Kia Oval