Flower and Giles leading race to replace Strauss
ENGLAND CRICKET CHIEF QUITS ROLE TO CARE FOR WIFE
Andrew Strauss was yesterday forced to give up on his dream of being at the helm of the england team when they win a world Cup after realising he could no longer give enough time to one of the game’s biggest jobs.
Strauss has stepped down as director of england cricket to concentrate on his family as his wife ruth is treated for cancer, leaving two very familiar names in the frame to replace him with a home world Cup looming.
Andy Flower, who has been filling in for Strauss on an interim basis all summer, and Ashley Giles are the two early favourites for a role Strauss has filled impressively since succeeding Paul downton with england in complete chaos.
Strauss quickly stamped his authority on the job three and a half years ago by replacing Peter Moores as coach with Trevor Bayliss and showing strong leadership in clarifying that there really was no way back for Kevin Pietersen.
Since then england have risen from joke figures at the last world Cup to favourites for next year’s edition after Strauss implemented a policy of radically overhauling a whiteball game that had lagged way behind the rest of the world.
Sadly, he will not be in charge when england hope to justify that policy by lifting the 50-over world Cup for the first time at Lord’s next July, even though he will continue working for the eCB — initially assisting chief executive Tom Harrison. Strauss said: ‘next year is potentially the most important the game has had in this country with the world Cup on home soil and the Ashes and we have an incredible opportunity to do something special. It is vital the director of cricket can give consistent guidance and support to england.
‘ Taking time out to support my wife and kids has given me the chance to fully consider what’s right for england and what’s needed at home. The role in cricket requires total focus and commitment. right now I need far more flexibility than could ever be possible in order to support my family.’
There was sympathy and huge support for Strauss here in Colombo where Bayliss and england white- ball captain eoin Morgan recognise his role in the transformation of the 50- over and Twenty20 sides.
‘He has been at the forefront of our improvement as he was incredibly instrumental in our forward thinking and planning,’ said Morgan ahead of england’s five- match series against Sri Lanka. ‘The direction given to me, Paul Farbrace and the selectors in 2015 was to build something for the 2019 world Cup. without that direction we wouldn’t have been allowed the freedom to play in the manner we have done.
‘ The absolute clarity and direction he wanted us to go in was quite a big deal. we’re now coming towards the end of a cycle he was in on at the very beginning and he will be missed. He certainly would have liked to be there next year but everyone understands why it has ended for him now.’
Strauss recruited Bayliss especially for his one- day coaching skills and the Australian was effusive on the benefits of having Strauss as his boss.
Bayliss said: ‘ He’s been fantastic for us, sensational, and deserves just as much credit as us for the progress this team has made.
‘ He’s very much the silent partner, someone who has given the players, management and coaching staff the confidence to get the job done.’
Strauss will play a part in recruiting his successor which could be good news for Giles, a former england team-mate he respects enormously.
Sportsmail understands Giles would be interested in the job but one possible drawback is that warwickshire designed his current role of sports director for him and he might consider it too soon to leave edgbaston. The eCB said yesterday that it remained the ‘ intention’ for Flower, coach when Strauss captained one of the greatest of all england teams, to return to overseeing the Lions in the new Year but Sportsmail understands he has warmed to the idea of succeeding Strauss.
Other possibilities include Yorkshire’s Martyn Moxon, Leicestershire’s wasim Khan and Sussex’s former england rugby player rob Andrew.
But it is Flower and Giles, who once had an uncomfortable relationship while sharing england coaching duties, who lead the race.