The English test side recently returned from a disappointing tour of Australia where they lost the Ashes series 4-0. Now the dust has settled, and England have returned from down under, the inquest can begin. Interim Managing Director of England’s Men’s Cricket, Sir Andrew Strauss, presented his findings to the ECB; as a result, decisions have been made to part ways with Chris Silverwood (Head Coach) Graham Thorpe (Batting Coach) and Ashley Giles (Managing Director of England’s Men’s Cricket).
With the summer fast approaching and a stellar season of cricket lined up, we thought we’d take a look at what’s needed to take England back to the summit of the sport.
Archer makes his comeback
Archer makes his comeback
The electric fast bowler has been side-lined for nearly a year due to a recurring stress fracture in his elbow. However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel; Archer recently travelled to the West Indies to continue his rehabilitation and recovery process. If he can return for England this summer, we can certainly expect to see some sparks ignite within the bowlers. You don’t have to turn the clock too far back to remember Jofra’s ferocious bowling against Australia in his debut Ashes series. For those watching, it was clear to see England were missing Jofra’s menacing bowling in the southern hemisphere.
Stokes’ comeback resumes
If you watched the recent Ashes series, you probably would have seen how excited the English fans and pundits were, for the return of talismanic all-rounder and 2019’s Headingley hero, Ben Stokes. However, it became apparent in the first test in Brisbane that Stokes wasn’t match fit. The question asked, was he rushed back too soon? In hindsight, yes. With that being said, we all know what a fully fit Ben Stokes is capable of; one thing’s for sure, England will be boosted when Stokes returns to top form.
Spinners required…anyone up for it?
Since the retirement of Graeme Swann in 2013, England have struggled to find a spinner of the same ilk to replace him. They have tried the likes of Dom Bess, Jack Leach and Moeen Ali. Ali was the most successful, providing with the bat as well as the ball however, he recently retired from test cricket. Between Bess and Leach, both just don’t cut the grade at the highest level; that’s not to say Bess couldn’t go on to find that level in the future but, England need a different option. Could Matt Parkinson from Lancashire be that option? Well, illustrious spinner Shane Warne thinks he has all the skills to succeed; only last year, Warne was backing Parkinson to play in the Ashes just gone by. Parkinson is a talented leg spinner who made his T20 debut for England in 2019. So, with all that in mind, could Parkinson be in with a shot?
Who will replace Chris Silverwood as coach?
As stated previously, the ECB made the decision to part ways with Head Coach Chris Silverwood. So, who is in line to replace him?
Announced today, Paul Collingwood will take interim charge of the squad for the up-and-coming West Indies tour however, we’re certain that Sir Andrew Strauss will want to appoint a full-time coach in the very near future. See below three candidates we think could take on the role:
Ricky Ponting
The former Australian Test captain is known for having a very astute cricket brain and his remarkable knowledge of batting could help England immensely. However, there are two sticking points: one, he’s a proud Australian through and through, so whether he would take the job on that merit would be interesting. Two, his salary demands are high; Ricky earns a significant salary from his coaching role in the Indian Premier League. However, a sizable offer from the ECB could turn his head.
Gary Kirsten
Kirsten is an extremely decorated coach, who once led South Africa to the No. 1 team in the world and India to the 50-over World Cup. Kirsten is currently a free agent and has even declared interest in the role. However, Kirsten wants to split the coaching role into ODI coach and Test Coach; the latter is the role of interest to him. It will be very interesting to see if the soon to be appointed Managing Director will make that split-role decision.
Mickey Arthur
A distinguished resume at international level, Arthur has coached South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Winning away series in both England and Australia with South Africa is no mean feat. Currently Head Coach of Derbyshire, we’re sure if Strauss and the ECB came calling, compensation pending, they wouldn’t get in the way of Arthur.
If you want to see how England look to turn their fortunes around in 2022, make sure you join us down at either Edgbaston, The Kia Oval or Lords for an incredible summer of cricket. Check out our cricket hospitality experiences here.
