Strauss sacks Thorpe after Silverwood axe – then BACKS Root as captain
BREAKING NEWS: Ruthless Andrew Strauss sacks Graham Thorpe hours after axing England coach Chris Silverwood – then BACKS Joe Root as captain and reveals he is only returning as managing director ‘for the short term’
- Graham Thorpe has followed Chris Silverwood through England’s exit door
- Ashley Giles also lost his job as England’s managing director earlier this week
- But Joe Root has had big support to continue in his role as England captain
Graham Thorpe today became the third victim of England’s Ashes cull but returning team director Andrew Strauss threw his full weight behind Joe Root to continue as captain.
Assistant coach Thorpe joins managing director Ashley Giles and coach Chris Silverwood in paying the price for the worst of all Ashes debacles and has been sacked by Strauss on his return to the ECB hierarchy.
But Root will continue as captain on the three-Test tour of the West Indies next month even though he has now presided over three Ashes series without success.
Graham Thorpe has been axed by Andrew Strauss as England’s post-Ashes shake-up continues
Joe Root received a big vote of confidence to continue in his position as England captain
Strauss commended the commitment Root has shown to England’s recovery from the Ashes
NEW ENGLAND COACH ODDS
Gary Kirsten 9/4
Alec Stewart 3/1
Paul Collingwood 7/2
Justin Langer 5/1
Ricky Ponting 5/1
Anthony McGrath 8/1
Glenn Chapple 10/1
Peter Moores 16/1
Ian Bell 16/1
Nasser Hussain 20/1
Graham Thorpe 33/1
Ian Salisbury 50/1
Sir Ian Botham 100/1
David Lloyd 100/1
‘Having spoken to Joe it is absolutely clear the extent of his commitment to moving this England team forward,’ said Strauss at Lord’s today.
‘He’s got incredible motivation and energy to do that. He’s bruised, hugely disappointed by what went on in the Ashes and I think it goes without saying there are many others in the same boat on that one.
‘But he has the respect of the players, they all play for him, and he sets a magnificent example both on and off the field so I’m very happy to give him my support and make sure he has the right structure around him to take pressure off him and make sure he can do his job.’
That structure will initially include a caretaker coach to leave for Antigua on February 24 with Strauss having sounded out candidates ‘both inside and outside’ the England environment for a position he hopes to fill by early next week.
‘There are decisions to be made on the focus of the tour,’ said Strauss. ‘It’s very important we go out and win but it’s also about looking forward and we have to think about that with the interim coach and selection.
‘The only way we can look at it at the moment is to get through the West Indies tour and after that there will be some time for us to step back and think strategically about what is needed. We want someone who can add value to the team.’
That means Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart, Under 19 coach Richard Dawson and former England assistant coach Paul Farbrace could all still be in the frame for the caretaker role.
But Strauss would not commit himself to a long-term return to the game that he left to focus on his family after the tragic death of his wife Ruth.
‘This is short-term,’ insisted Strauss. ‘My role is to help prepare the team for the West Indies series and to recommend some structural changes and help Tom Harrison with recruitment of the roles, including the new managing director of England cricket. However long it takes I’m prepared to play that role.’
Thorpe’s departure comes after Chris Silverwood (above) was dismissed as head coach
Ashley Giles has also lost his job as England’s managing director this week in the overhaul
Strauss wouldn’t rule out a move to make Justin Langer (left) the new England coach
Meanwhile under pressure chief executive Harrison insisted he remained the best man for the job despite calls for him to join the masses leaving the ECB.
‘I am not running away from this challenge,’ said Harrison at Lord’s. ‘It’s been exceptionally difficult but it needs leadership and consistency in how we build back and get to a place where we can recover from an extremely difficult period both on and off the field.’
In the long-term Strauss would not rule out Australia coach Justin Langer to make a startling switch and become England coach. Langer is on the verge of losing his job even though he has just led Australia to a twenty20 World Cup and Ashes double.
‘I know Justin well and on the surface he’s done a very good job with Australia,’ added Strauss. ‘So I wouldn’t rule him out but I’m sure there are plenty of others as well.’
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