England Cricket's head coach: The contenders to replace Trevor Bayliss at the helm
We look at the contenders who could replace Trevor Bayliss as England's head coach.
Trevor Bayliss has completed his work as England's head coach after four years at the helm which ended with a World Cup-winning summer and a thrilling - albeit drawn - Ashes series.
Ashley Giles is the man responsible for hiring his replacement but deliberately delayed the process so as not to interfere with the main business of the summer. He has previously suggested an interim coach is possible but, with a clear month coming up, if the right man is free a permanent appointment could be made within weeks.
As well as the main job, England recently advertised for an assistant coach to join Graham Thorpe and Chris Silverwood, both of whom would be keen to succeed Bayliss. Former one-day captain Paul Collingwood has been fulfilling that role since Paul Farbrace left for Warwickshire and is strong favourite to get the nod. Young, popular with the players and full of energy and ideas, he should be encouraged to embrace a leadership role.
Here, we look at the key contenders who might be vying to replace Bayliss while we also assess how far the team has come under Bayliss and where he might be heading next.
England head coach contenders
Chris Silverwood
England's pace bowling coach is the leading candidate among Bayliss' existing staff, though Graham Thorpe may be interested too. He ticks key boxes as both a homegrown option and one with tangible success on his CV, having won both divisions of the County Championship with Essex.
Graham Thorpe
Thorpe became England’s new main batting coach and is thought to be in line for extra responsibility now that Bayliss has left. The former Surrey and England star, who has been England’s white-ball batting coach, is highly regarded by Ashley Giles and was one of the first coaches to recognise the rich potential of Joe Root during his time in the Lions.
Alec Stewart
A former Test captain with gravitas and experience to burn. As director of cricket at Surrey he has an exhaustive knowledge of the county game. Whether or not he is willing and able to take on the demands of the job is unclear.
Ottis Gibson
Well versed in the international game after stints in charge of both the West Indies and South Africa and has enjoyed two separate spells as England's pace bowling coach. Would need to persuade the ECB that he has fresh ideas.
Mickey Arthur
Like Gibson a seasoned campaigner on the global circuit but, after spells as boss of South Africa, Australia and Pakistan, could be deemed stale.
Jason Gillespie
Highly fancied to get the job when interviewed four years ago only for Andrew Strauss to opt for Bayliss. England may baulk at going for two Australians in a row and, though respected, his work at Sussex has not been as successful as his prior engagement at Yorkshire.
And the ones who are otherwise engaged
The ECB have recently appointed eight head coaches for the inaugural season of The Hundred next year. Of those Gary Kirsten, Tom Moody, Andrew McDonald and Stephen Fleming might all have been possible options for the England job.
How far have England come under Trevor Bayliss?
ENGLAND IN TESTS NOVEMBER 2010-JUNE 2015
- Series record (win/loss/draw): 8-4-4
- Test-by-Test record: 23-17-14
- Totals of 400-plus: 24 in 96 innings, a success rate of 25 per cent
- Totals of less than 100 all out: one
- Runs per wicket: 36.67
- Runs per over: 3.21
This period began with England retaining the Ashes in Australia in the winter of 2010-11, with four innings where they topped 500 thanks largely to the inspirational form of opener Alastair Cook. The team's abject showing at the 2015 World Cup though prompted a change of emphasis.
ENGLAND TESTS IN BAYLISS ERA
- Series record (win/loss/draw): 8-5-4
- Test-by-Test record: 27-25-7
- Totals of 400-plus: 16 in 112 innings, a success rate of 14.3 per cent
- Totals of less than 100 all out: Four
- Runs per wicket: 30.84
- Runs per over: 3.25
England failed to score 400 in any innings of this summer's Ashes series. Only the heroics of Ben Stokes helped cover up an embarrassing 67 all out in the first innings at Headingley, and there were warning signs earlier in the summer when they only managed 85 first time out against Ireland at Lord's.
ENGLAND IN ODIS NOVEMBER 2010-JUNE 2015
- Record (win/loss/tie/no result): 49-53-2-4
- Totals of 350-plus: Three (all after the 2015 World Cup)
- Average: 32.31
- Runs per over: 5.38
The summer of 2015 marked a notable change in England's approach and results in one-day cricket after a miserable World Cup campaign earlier in the year.
ENGLAND IN ODIS IN THE BAYLISS ERA
Record (win/loss/tie/no result): 62-24-2-5
Totals of 350-plus: 15
Average: 41.48
Runs per over: 6.21
The bolder approach to ODI cricket developed under Bayliss reached its goal with the dramatic victory over New Zealand in the World Cup final earlier this summer.
Where is Trevor Bayliss going now?
Outgoing England coach Trevor Bayliss admits taking charge of his native Australia would tempt him back into the international fray, but is not expecting to get the chance.
The 56-year-old said: "I think there's only one international job I'd take on in a full-time position. That would be the Australia job and that's in pretty good hands. Justin is doing a great job with them and there's some good young coaches coming through the Australia system."
It is not impossible he could work in some capacity for Cricket Australia, though, having previously helped out on an interim basis with their Twenty20 team.
"I've signed up to do the IPL (with Sunrisers Hyderabad) but if there's anything anyone in Australia wants me to get involved in, I'm more than happy to listen to what they might have in mind.
"If I can help out fantastic, if not I'll look forward to sitting back and watching the Australia and England boys go around"
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