Shane Warne was "serious" about becoming England coach in days before death

03/08/2022

Isa Guha has revealed that Shane Warne held "serious" ambitions of becoming England 's new head coach before his tragic passing.

Warne spoke of his interest in the role last month, telling the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast : "I'd like to do it, it's a great time to be England coach.

"I think I'd do a pretty good job, there's a lot to work with. There are so many good players in England and a lot of depth, but you've got to get some of the basics right."

Warne's comments were largely dismissed at the time, with his former teammate Mark Taylor telling 2GB : "I would be very surprised to see Shane Warne coach England.

"They're full-time jobs, they take you away from home, they take you away from life. I'm not sure he wants to be coaching for 12 months of the year."

However, former England bowler Guha, who worked alongside Warne as a broadcaster, has said the Australia legend was in fact serious about becoming England's next coach.

In a column for News Corp , Guha wrote: "The last time I saw Shane Warne in person, he came to me with a question. 'Hey Ish … I’m keen to put my hand up for this England job, what do you reckon?'

"He was serious. People might have dismissed his quotes about wanting to coach England a fortnight ago as Warnie being Warnie, but he meant what he said and he wanted to know what I thought.

"I told him I thought he’d be amazing. Tactically he was so good and I thought England would really benefit from someone like him who could give the players belief and enhance them as cricketers.

"Warnie was close to a few of the England players having worked with them at the Rajasthan Royals and he got on with them well, as you could tell by the outpouring of emotion from Joe Root and Ben Stokes and the England players reacting to the news in the West Indies.

"I absolutely think he had it in him to do that. Warnie loved a challenge and always wanted to push himself, and who knows what would have happened?"

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