England have approached South African Gary Kirsten to be new head coach of their Test team, with Justin Langer now out of the running for the job and Simon Katich an outside chance, according to a UK media report.
Nick Hoult, the cricket writer of the UK Telegraph, reported Monday that “Langer is no longer a candidate partly because England want to split the coaching roles and reservations over whether he would work well with Ben Stokes, who is set to be appointed Test captain.”
Kirsten, who took India to a World Cup win, was close to getting the England job in 2019 when it went instead to Chris Silverwood as a coach of red and white ball teams.
Kirsten is understood to prefer splitting the roles. He declined to comment on the report, the Telegraph said.
Stokes is expected to meet with new ECB boss Robert Key this week to discuss replacing Joe Root.
“One of his first moves will be to bring back Stuart Broad and James Anderson,” wrote Hoult.
Broad was close to retiring and taking a TV with Sky when he was dropped after the Ashes but Root’s demise and the loss to West Indies look like giving him a lifeline.
“Along with Anderson he will be back to help Stokes get off to a winning start in the series with New Zealand in June,” wrote Hoult.
“Neither Broad nor Anderson will play all seven Tests this summer, those days are over, and it may well be unlikely they appear together again, but they will be given more than sentimental one-off farewell match. Both will be integral members of the squad again.
“Kirsten is currently working in the IPL as a batting coach with the Gujarat Lions. He has previously publicly declared his interest in coaching England but only if the role is divided between Test and white-ball cricket.”
The Telegraph said Katich, who worked with Key on the TV coverage of the Australians tour of Pakistan, and Graham Ford, who worked with Key at Kent, are also candidates but Kirsten has a proven track record of success with India and South Africa and is now the frontrunner.
Kirsten coached India from 2008-11, leading them to the World Cup on home soil before leaving to become South Africa head coach.
“With Stokes as captain, England believe the need for a strongman head coach like Langer is reduced,” wrote Hoult.
“Whereas Root did his best to avoid confrontation and needed more back-up from a forceful personality behind him, Stokes is completely different. He will readily pull players back into line himself but will need a coach who is good tactically and a facilitator behind the scenes.”
Kirtsen, 54, said in December: “Listen, it [the England job] is always a consideration because it’s a tremendous honour. I’ve walked this journey twice now and I’ve always made it clear that I would never commit to doing all formats.
“And when international cricket boards get their head around the fact that they need to split coaching roles, then it becomes a consideration.”
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I hate Jazz with a passion.
Nick
Roar Guru
That Langer wasn't able to keep players in line, reflects poorly on Langer, no one else. Cummins thanked Langer for teaching the team how to play cricket in ‘the right way’. Yeah, cause he sincerely meant that.
Marty
Roar Rookie
You must have missed the bit where Cummins thanked Langer for teaching the team how to play cricket in ‘the right way’. The fact that Cummins then chose to act the way he did reflects poorly on him, not Langer.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
The Poms need a decent milkshake like the good old days when we would grab our bro head & shook between the ears. Tough love like you suggest Rowdy is what the Poms need. :stoked:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Every team needs a Croatian. If l was a team recruiter I'd be looking for at least one on my team. If you have a Croatian friend, you have him for life. They're one-eyed and tuff.
Nick
Roar Guru
Considering Cummins and co ran a pretty successful white anting campaign against Langer in the press, and Langer was marginalised to the point of being a symbolic head without any power, you saying what he would or wouldn't stand for is a bit much
Marty
Roar Rookie
How about refusing to follow team instructions on the first day of the Adelaide test when the series was still up for grabs? Ring any bells? They wasted the new ball on the first day of the test by bowling to short to try and make their averages look a bit better, failed to have an impact and then tried to justify their ridiculous efforts by whinging in the press back home. That might be ok in your book but it sure wouldn’t be in mine, and more to the point Langers. I’ve got no problems with players writing tour diaries, but senior players publicly contradicting their captain in the middle of a tour in an attempt to justify your own selfish behaviour? That’s a whole different situation.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
At least he would grab them by the throat if they didn’t listen to instructions :silly:
Pommie B'stard
Guest
What about Dizzy Gillespie?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Kirsten will take the job .. Why ? Well clearly he wants it .. something is not aligned in the England dressing room .. whatever the reasons …,, egos , bullies , ? I dont really know . These issues generally get massively amplified when the team keeps losing . Alliances , anti alliances and insecurities all begin to surface . I personally don’t think there is a better person than Gary Kirsten to manage this . He is a super chilled guy but that should not be mistaken for being an easy touch . He is as hard as nails . Technically few better too ..
Nick
Roar Guru
What rubbish. What did they do that was poor behaviour? Also, players writing columns on tour is not unusual. At all. Ponting, Clarke, Waugh all wrote columns. Used to happen all the time. Players wrote columns that ended up being skeleton material for the tour diaries they were also publishing.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Understandable decision, there’s no way JL would have put up with the kind of behaviour that Anderson and Broad dished up on the last Ashes tour. It will be interesting to see if they are still allowed to write newspaper columns while on tour, that was one of the more ridiculous aspects of last summer.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Kirstens the right choice. But Anderson and Broad are fit enough to play all the games. The dumb thinking of the writer is the reverse of reality. The guys bodies at their age have adapted to the bollocking 15 overs a day gives them though less is better. The bowlers also can conserve which Stokes, Archer were unable to do. With those two and Ollie Robinson the team will be always be formidable in England.
Nick
Roar Guru
I'd give it to him. They need some tough love and some straight talking
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Katich is a great thinker and communicator, based on his commentating. No idea how he would go at the top of a management structure where part of his role is to coordinate others. Hopefully he'd do well, but probably needs to be tested in that role first before taking on a national set up.
Nick
Roar Guru
Katich would be good. They do need some players who are willing to grab a game by the throat and choke the opposition.