Strauss set to make decision

– The England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) new chairman Colin Graves said yesterday the decision on England’s new head coach was one for Andrew Strauss (above).

Former captain Strauss was on Saturday named as English cricket’s new director and his first job will be to find a replacement for Peter Moores, who was sacked in the wake of his appointment.

Graves will start his role with the ECB on Thursday and there has been speculation that he is keen to appoint Yorkshire’s title-winning coach Jason Gillespie to replace Moores.

But Graves said the decision was not his to make. “It is Andrew Strauss who takes that call as he builds his team around him,” Graves told The Times.

“The decision to sack Peter Moores was not a knee-jerk one and this will not be either. Andrew will have an idea who he has in mind and wants to talk to.

“It is his recommendation and he will bring that to (CEO) Tom Harrison and then to me.”

Another former captain, Ian Botham, believes Australian Gillespie should be the man Strauss picks, with Joe Root appointed captain ahead of Alastair Cook.

Moores’ former assistant Paul Farbrace will take charge of England’s forthcoming series with New Zealand and formerly served as an assistant to Gillespie at Yorkshire.

England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow knows both men well and told The Guardian: “Both Gillespie and Farbrace have different qualities. They’ve made huge improvements here, topped off by us winning the Championship. I’m sure whether they get the job or not, they’ll bring their good qualities to English cricket.” –

London