GILES CLOSE TO ECB RETURN
Former Test spinner set for dramatic England return
Ashley Giles is closing in on a stunning england comeback. Four years after being sacked by the eCB, he has been identified as their preferred choice to succeed Andrew strauss.
Giles, removed as one- day coach in 2014, is understood to have been the outstanding candidate during the interview process to appoint a new director of cricket.
Sportsmail revealed in October — when strauss announced he was to stand down for family reasons — that Giles’ credentials made him favourite for the role in competition with acting director Andy Flower, the man he briefly split international coaching duties with.
Ronnie irani, instrumental in turning essex around in recent years, is also known to have impressed at interview earlier this week.
But 45-year-old Giles’ wealth of experience in the county game, both at tracksuit level and as an administrator, has told in his favour. he has also completed a masters in sports directorship since Paul Downtown ended his first postplaying role with england.
Wasim Khan, who is to become the new chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board in the new year, and Australian Jamie Cox, who is to combine working in Aussie Rules with a return to Tasmania Cricket, dropped out during the recruitment process.
An eCB insider said last night that ‘negotiations are continuing’.
it remains to be seen what compensation, if any, Warwickshire will demand for a man they lured back to the club from lancashire via a financial settlement two years ago.
strauss has played a part in choosing his replacement and has a high regard for Giles — the former Test spinner who won 54 caps and was a member of the 2005 Ashes-winning team — particularly as a strategic thinker.
immediate thought will need to be turned to a review of loughborough, with eCB chairman Colin Graves known to be keen on re-evaluating the cost of the pathway programmes that feed into the england lions, of which Flower is head coach. every department aside from the growth area of women’s cricket has been given the task of saving money in the build-up to the launch of the new hundred competition.
The new director will also be required to select the england coach with Trevor Bayliss stepping down after the double whammy of World Cup and Ashes next summer. yORKshiRe are confident of signing Duanne Olivier on a Kolpak deal despite his recall by south Africa.
The 26-year-old won the last of his five Test caps 14 months ago but injury to fellow fast bowler lungi Ngidi saw him included in the 13-man squad to face Pakistan on Boxing Day.
he would have to turn his back on international cricket to sign a proposed three-year deal.