BEN TALKS, MEN LISTEN
BEN STOKES will “grab the England team by the scruff of the neck” and turn it into a mean winning machine again. But he can do so only if the new coach removes all the off-the-field workload from the allrounder’s broad shoulders.
Stokes has been backed to drag the Test side out of the doldrums this summer after succeeding Joe Root as captain.
South African Gary Kirsten, who is currently in charge of IPL side Gujarat Titans, is firm favourite to be enlisted as coach, having been approached by Rob Key.
Managing director Key is keen to get Kirsten, 54, on board, with England’s opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s only a month away.
But Paul Farbrace feels that whether Kirsten or someone else fills the role, the No.1 priority is to allow Stokes to focus fully on his new challenge on the field.
Former assistant coach Farbrace
(right) said: “It’s a brilliant appointment.
“Ben has an excellent cricket brain and all the credentials to do the job.
“Like a lot of England captains who get appointed, they haven’t done a lot of captaincy because they quickly go out of county cricket into the England side.
FITZGERALD
It was the same with Alastair Cook, Joe Root and many others.
“What Ben is good at is being a voice in the dressing room. He is someone who, when he speaks, people listen. He has got good authority in there, which is a really good sign.
“There’s been a lot of tough stuff going on around the
England team. It’s been a tough winter and Ben is absolutely the right person to grab it by the scruff of the neck and drive it forward.”
Meanwhile, James
Anderson would relish the chance to help England
“get back to winning Test matches” under Stokes.
Key this week declared Anderson and Stuart Broad available for selection after they were dropped for the West Indies tour and Anderson said: “Stuart and I were hoping our careers weren’t over so it’s nice to hear there’s a chance.
“I’d love to be a part of that. English cricket needs to get back to winning
Test matches.”
SOMERSET stunned Warwickshire to complete their first County Championship win of the season by an innings and 82 runs, bowling the visitors out for 167 as Jack Brooks took 4-44.
Harry Brook fell six short of a double century as Yorkshire took a first-innings lead of 280 against Kent, who hit back with 118-2.
Essex managed only 193 and 149-3 in reply to 390 against Northamptonshire.
Lancashire require 342 for victory at Hampshire, for whom Nick Gubbins scored 130 in their second innings total of 344.
Chris Dent scored 207 and Marcus Harris 124 as the Gloucestershire openers put on 296. They closed at 443-2 in reply to Surrey’s first innings 603.