Stewart out of running for England role

England’s search for a new head coach to replace Trevor Bayliss is expected to end today with the final round of interviews at lord’s, but former England captain alec stewart is understood to have ruled himself out of contention.

Sportsmail revealed earlier this week that former India and south africa coach gary Kirsten had flown to london to meet ECB officials. Other names linked to the job include Ireland’s south african coach graham Ford and Chris silverwood, England’s fast bowling coach.

Managing director ashley giles had originally hoped to name Bayliss’s successor as early as this week.

But, with the ECB today officially unveiling the names of the eight teams for next year’s new Hundred competition, as well as several of the marquee players taking part in the event, the new coach might not be named until the beginning of next week.

Meanwhile, World Cup winners liam Plunkett and Mark Wood have put themselves into the inaugural Hundred draft at cut-price rates.

In a tactical move designed to ensure their participation in the ECB’s new 100-ball format, Plunkett has valued himself at a bargain £50,000, the third lowest tier, and Wood is in at £60,000 — less than half of the £125,000 top tier.

dozens of others will go into the selection process, to be screened live on sky sports on October 20, without reserve prices. draft rules for the tournament — launched this afternoon when the eight team names and identities of some of their local icon and Test players are officially revealed — state that a player cannot be purchased for a fee below their set salary band.

That has led to the raft of ‘frees’ and modest valuations from the likes of Plunkett and Wood, two of the England heroes who sealed World Cup glory at lord’s in mid- July. Test batsman Joe denly, a mainstay of the recent 2-2 ashes draw, is in at £75,000.

If an individual fails to attract a buyer in their nominated wage slot they will not be involved in the first season, other than as a replacement player in the light of injuries or unavailability, or as one of eight £30,000 wildcards taken from next year’s Twenty20 Blast.

Each of the eight newly-formed teams will reveal up to three members of their squads this lunchtime, although some, like the Headingley- based team, continue negotiations over their second icons. adil Rashid has been secured as their no 1. BEn sTOKEs last night ended a remarkable summer by being named the Professional Cricketers’ association players’ player of the year. stokes, who struck an unbeaten 84 in the final against new Zealand on the way to England’s maiden World Cup title and then crashed a barely believable 135 not out to keep the ashes alive at Headingley, picked up the Reg Hayter Cup at the players’ union’s 50th annual awards ceremony.