Reports | Gary Kirsten due to arrive in London on Tuesday to discuss England job
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Gary Kirsten is due to arrive in London on Tuesday to discuss the England & Wales Cricket Board that he is the right man to succeed Trevor Bayliss as England's head coach. If hired, it would give Kirsten the chance to build on his successful stints in charge of India and his native South Africa.
Having coached India to a World Cup triumph and the No.1 ranking in Tests, Kirsten took up the role of head coach for South Africa and guided the side to a No.1 ranking in Tests as well. Since, he has coached the Hobart Hurricanes (BBL) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (IPL) for one season each. And as per The Daily Mail’s report, the backroom staff that include the likes of Chris Silverwood, Paul Collingwood, and Graham Thorpe is understood to be key to Kirsten's enthusiasm for the England job.
The 51-year-old, if hired, would stand to earn as much as £1million a year for three years, with the option of carrying on until England defend their World Cup trophy in India in 2023.
Yet another factor that may prove decisive in Kirsten’s favour is Ashley Giles, the ECB’s managing director of men's cricket, who is eager to name Trevor Bayliss’ successor as soon as possible. Kirsten is also understood to have been encouraged by Giles’ plan to offer the new head coach enough breathing space to spend time with family in an increasingly packed schedule. Whether Kirsten is appointed will depend on an interview with the board on Wednesday, but is understood that Kirsten and Giles have already discussed the details of the role.
Should he be appointed, Kirsten would be set to begin his new stint just before this winter’s tour of South Africa, which starts with a warm-up game in Benoni on December 17. This would mean that current fast-bowling coach Silverwood remains favourite to take charge of the squad as they head to New Zealand for five T20Is and two Tests.
As England and Giles are keen to get the team playing consistent Test cricket, his Test numbers, of 7,289 runs in 101 Test matches at an average of 45, may prove a factor that goes in his favour. At least, captain Joe Root and Co. can learn to handle the criticism hurled most at them: the inability to bat for long periods of time.
