Reports: Gary Kirsten front runner for England's Test coaching role

Former South African batter Gary Kirsten has been identified as the prime candidate for the next head coach (Test) for England after the new ECB director Rob Key is keen on split coaching roles for different formats. Earlier, former Australian coach Justin Langer was one of the names discussed however, according to new reports he might not be in consideration while his former teammate Simon Katich might get one of the roles.

England has been in search of a new head coach after Chris Silverwood was sacked after the dismal show from England in the Ashes and Paul Collingwood was appointed the interim head coach for the West Indies tour. Kirsten who has coached South Africa, and India to the World Cup glory in 2011 had noted earlier about wanting to take up the role only if it is not for all formats. He added that he would consider it once the dilemma over the split coaching role gets done.

“Listen, it [the England job] is always a consideration because it’s a tremendous honor. I’ve walked this journey twice now and I’ve always made it clear that I would never commit to doing all formats,” Kirsten told in December last year.

“And when international cricket boards get their head around the fact that they need to split coaching roles, then it becomes a consideration,” he added.

Justin Langer is no longer a candidate: Telegraph reports

According to Nick Hoult from Telegraph, Langer might not be a potential contender for taking up England’s head coach role with the reasons being the split coaching idea and also noted that there might be doubts over Ben Stokes and Langer working together. Although Stokes hasn’t been confirmed as England’s Test captain, in all likelihood he remains the top contender for it.

“Langer is no longer a candidate partly because England wants to split the coaching roles and reservations over whether he would work well with Ben Stokes, who is set to be appointed Test captain,” The Telegraph’s Hoult has written.