Collingwood is appointed as England's head coach on an interim basis
Paul Collingwood is appointed as interim head coach for England’s three-Test tour of West Indies next month – as Andrew Strauss steps up search for new managing director who will choose long-term replacement for sacked Chris Silverwood
- England travel to the West Indies for a three-Test series at the start of next month
- Paul Collingwood will take charge of the side for the tour as interim coach
- Chris Silverwood was sacked as head coach of England on Thursday night
- Gary Kirsten, Graham Ford and Justin Langer are among long-term successors
England have stayed within their current set-up and given themselves time to find a new head coach by asking Paul Collingwood to take charge for next month’s three-Test series in the Caribbean.
The man who led England to the Twenty20 World Cup in 2010 has been asked to take charge on an interim basis following the post-Ashes clear-out that saw Ashley Giles, Chris Silverwood and Graham Thorpe all lose their jobs in three days last week.
Collingwood, who stood in for Silverwood for the T20 series against West Indies last month, is now seen as a safe pair of hands while new interim managing director Andrew Strauss plots the best way forward for England’s woefully under-performing Test cricket.
Paul Collingwood has been appointed as England’s head coach on an interim basis next month
Strauss will now look for a new full-time managing director who will then choose a head coach, with Gary Kirsten, Graham Ford and, intriguingly, Justin Langer, who has just been forced out of his job with Australia by player power, all in the long-term coaching frame.
‘I am genuinely excited to be leading the Test team for the tour of the Caribbean and I can’t wait to get started,’ said Collingwood.
‘Having a challenging Test series against the West Indies straight off the back of the Ashes disappointment gives us a chance from now to reset and rebuild.
‘Playing Test matches for England is the highest accolade in the game. My objective is to give players clarity, direction and encouragement for them to start building something special.
‘I have spoken to Joe Root and Ben Stokes and both are excited and passionate to take the team forward in the new cycle. Although they know it won’t be easy they have the desire and bravery to do things differently to ensure the team can prosper. We have an opportunity to get back on track.’
Collingwood is preferred to current England Under 19 coach Richard Dawson, who is expected to be named among his assistants for the West Indies trip. They were the two prime candidates once Strauss decided to give a younger coach an opportunity rather than ask a senior figure like Alec Stewart to take caretaker charge.
Now Collingwood will join Strauss and Root in picking a squad to try begin the recovery from their 4-0 Ashes mauling against a West Indies side they have not beaten in the Caribbean since 2004.
England will consider new names to bolster batting that was the major reason for their Ashes debacle, with Durham’s Alex Lees and Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon in the frame to be included in a squad that is expected to be named on Tuesday.
But the biggest issue may be whether England want to start this new Test cycle with both their bowling giants Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad or move forward with only one of the titans on any one tour. Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood and Yorkshire’s Matt Fisher are candidates to come in should England also refresh the bowling.
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