ENGLAND’S ASHES BURN
ENGLAND team director Ashley Giles wants to fast-track World Cupwinning captain Eoin Morgan into management when he quits playing.
But Giles knows his most immediate task is to replace current head coach Trevor Bayliss, who leaves next month.
“Internal candidates wi l l be considered,” said Giles ( below). “And it would be great to have an English coach. We’ve only had one – Peter Moores – in the last 20 years, and it would be a preference.
“Most importantly, though, we want the best man for the job, wherever they come from.
“It’s a great job, and whoever it is must really want to be the head coach of England.
“Informal conversations have already taken place, but the formal process hasn’t started. That would only be a distraction during the course of an Ashes series, and I don’t want that.
“We don’t have to rush. If we haven’t appointed someone by the time of the winter tour in New Zealand in October we can have an interim coach.”
The leading internal candidate is bowling coach Chris Silverwood, who won the 2017 County Championship as head coach with Essex.
He must be the favourite, although Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart is also a strong possibility.
Selecting another overseas boss, like Jason Gillespie or Tom Moody, appears increasingly unlikely.
Giles, who was one of the heroes of the famous 2005 Ashes series win, has control of overall England strategy, and another vital conversation will come with one-day skipper Morgan, once the dust has settled on the World Cup glory.
“I will take him out for a bite to eat and reflect on everything to do with the World Cup,” said Giles. “Eoin was a fantastic captain in the tournament, and I want to hear what he thinks about the future. He still has so much to offer as a player, and also in the longer term as a coach.
“He would make a superb coach, and hopefully within the England set- up down the line. He’s the kind of man you want to stay involved.
“You want to use his cricket intelligence and leadership skills rather than see them go to other parts of the game, such as the media.”
Giles takes particular pride in the World Cup triumph.
“Winning such tournaments is about inspiring future generations to play the game,” he explained. “And that will be a legacy for all these players. So will the team culture.”