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Kevin Pietersen backs Michael Vaughan for England’s director of cricket role Kevin Pietersen backs Michael Vaughan for England’s director of cricket role
(about 3 hours later)
Kevin Pietersen has backed Michael Vaughan for the newly created role of director of England cricket, claiming the former England captain will bring a fresh approach to the national side. Pietersen’s comments came on a day when his superior at Surrey, Alec Stewart, also declared an interest in applying for the post.Kevin Pietersen has backed Michael Vaughan for the newly created role of director of England cricket, claiming the former England captain will bring a fresh approach to the national side. Pietersen’s comments came on a day when his superior at Surrey, Alec Stewart, also declared an interest in applying for the post.
Vaughan is the frontrunner and was quick to put his name in the mix on Wednesday evening after the ECB chief executive, Tom Harrison, sacked Paul Downton as the managing director and stated a new approach to team management would be taken.Vaughan is the frontrunner and was quick to put his name in the mix on Wednesday evening after the ECB chief executive, Tom Harrison, sacked Paul Downton as the managing director and stated a new approach to team management would be taken.
Stewart, another former England captain and now the director of cricket at Surrey, is similarly keen to hold talks with the ECB. “When England come calling, you shouldn’t say no,” he said.Stewart, another former England captain and now the director of cricket at Surrey, is similarly keen to hold talks with the ECB. “When England come calling, you shouldn’t say no,” he said.
Either man would provide further encouragement to Pietersen, of course, with the 34-year-old batsman hoping a glut of runs in Division Two at Surrey can power an international return. Either man would provide further encouragement to Pietersen, with the 34-year-old batsman hoping a glut of runs in Division Two at Surrey can power an international return.
“[Vaughan] will know what changes need to be made for the good of English cricket,” Pietersen told the BreatheSport website, after making himself unavailable for interview at Surrey’s pre-season media day. “The way he captained shows he’ll change the brand of cricket currently being played, which we need.”“[Vaughan] will know what changes need to be made for the good of English cricket,” Pietersen told the BreatheSport website, after making himself unavailable for interview at Surrey’s pre-season media day. “The way he captained shows he’ll change the brand of cricket currently being played, which we need.”
While the 40-year-old Vaughan has worked as a pundit since retiring from cricket in 2009, Stewart, 52, would be able to draw on more relevant experience at domestic level. “As a player I did just about anything that was asked of me,” said Stewart on Thursday. “If they asked me to take on a role, and it’s the right role, of course I’d listen and have a big conversation. The head coach Peter Moores also welcomed the prospect of working with Vaughan, although his own future is in question after the disastrous World Cup campaign that saw England eliminated at the group stage. “Of course I could. This is not a personal thing – people have views,” he said after the first day of England’s final Test warm-up against a St Kitts & Nevis XI in Basseterre. “We’ve gone through a transition in England cricket and we’re still going through that. So to me this is about getting England as strong as we can as quickly as we can, we’ve got a huge summer of cricket.
“I just want England to be the best side in the world. And if the ECB felt I was the right person to help take them to No1, then of course I’d look at it. If they want someone with experience of being a director of cricket, then I’d have thought I’d be very close to being at the top of that list.” “Whoever comes in and does that job, I just want them to be passionate about getting it right and be prepared to share views to make sure we get the best way forward.”
The appointment is unlikely to be the only change made by the former broadcasting-rights guru and Derbyshire all-rounder Harrison – who only began his own job in January – and the incoming chairman, Colin Graves. While the 40-year-old Vaughan has worked as a pundit since retiring from cricket in 2009, Stewart, 52, would be able to draw on more relevant experience at domestic level. “As a player I did just about anything asked of me,” said Stewart on Thursday. “If they asked me to take on a role, and it’s the right role, of course I’d listen and have a big conversation.
“I just want England to be the best side in the world. And if the ECB felt I was the right person to help take them to No1, then I’d look at it. If they want someone with experience of being a director of cricket, then I’d have thought I’d be very close to being at the top of that list.”
The appointment is unlikely to be the only change made by the former broadcasting-rights guru and Derbyshire all-rounder Harrison, who only began his own job in January, and the incoming chairman, Colin Graves.
While the national selector, James Whitaker, has been cleared to attend the second and third Tests in the Caribbean later this month, as scheduled, the new regime are understood to be exploring a fresh approach to how the senior side are picked.While the national selector, James Whitaker, has been cleared to attend the second and third Tests in the Caribbean later this month, as scheduled, the new regime are understood to be exploring a fresh approach to how the senior side are picked.
The job description for the director of England cricket is yet to be drawn up and will be moulded to suit the best candidate. It is likely to have over-arching powers on team selection in partnership with the captain. It would bring an end to decision by committee and increase accountability for results – a stated aim of Harrison’s in the announcement of Downton’s departure.The job description for the director of England cricket is yet to be drawn up and will be moulded to suit the best candidate. It is likely to have over-arching powers on team selection in partnership with the captain. It would bring an end to decision by committee and increase accountability for results – a stated aim of Harrison’s in the announcement of Downton’s departure.
This change in approach could present issues for the head coach, Peter Moores, especially if Vaughan – a vocal critic of his – were to get the job. It is understood Moores retains some support at board level but has been told to focus on securing a convincing Test series win in the West Indies.This change in approach could present issues for the head coach, Peter Moores, especially if Vaughan – a vocal critic of his – were to get the job. It is understood Moores retains some support at board level but has been told to focus on securing a convincing Test series win in the West Indies.
Downton’s removal was discussed at Thursday’s ECB board meeting – the last to be chaired by Giles Clarke – in which Harrison presented his World Cup review, continued discussions over the restructure of the England set-up and his plans for the domestic game.Downton’s removal was discussed at Thursday’s ECB board meeting – the last to be chaired by Giles Clarke – in which Harrison presented his World Cup review, continued discussions over the restructure of the England set-up and his plans for the domestic game.
The meeting also saw a number of ECB positions agreed, with Clarke nominated as the board’s first president – a role that will allow him to continue representing England at the International Cricket Council – and the Middlesex chairman, Ian Lovett, appointed the ECB deputy chairman.The meeting also saw a number of ECB positions agreed, with Clarke nominated as the board’s first president – a role that will allow him to continue representing England at the International Cricket Council – and the Middlesex chairman, Ian Lovett, appointed the ECB deputy chairman.
The board members are also understood to have joked about Clarke’s behaviour at the Wisden dinner the previous night, at which the outgoing ECB chairman became enraged by the guest speaker and former ICC president Ehsan Mani, who claimed more should be done to protect Test cricket.The board members are also understood to have joked about Clarke’s behaviour at the Wisden dinner the previous night, at which the outgoing ECB chairman became enraged by the guest speaker and former ICC president Ehsan Mani, who claimed more should be done to protect Test cricket.
Clarke, who was central to last year’s restructure at the ICC that saw India, England and Australia take control, angrily remonstrated with Mani after the dinner in the Long Room at Lord’s, with the Wisden editor, Lawrence Booth, telling him to calm down and behave.Clarke, who was central to last year’s restructure at the ICC that saw India, England and Australia take control, angrily remonstrated with Mani after the dinner in the Long Room at Lord’s, with the Wisden editor, Lawrence Booth, telling him to calm down and behave.