Former India coach Gary Kirsten is not interested in taking up the role of England's Team Director and had distanced himself from the job. The 46-year-old former Proteas opener, who had guided India to World Cup victory and No 1 ranking in Test cricket is third favourite in the list of bookies to replace Andy Flower.
Kirsten will be seen as the chief coach of Delhi Daredevils in the upcoming season. According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, Kirsten has reportedly told them that he is not interested even if he is offered the job. Kirsten also told reporters in India that his circumstances have not changed since stepping down as coach of South Africa last July.
Despite leading South Africa to No. 1 in the world Test rankings, Kirsten cited the amount of time spent away from home as the reason for quitting and said the same explanation prevents an interest in returning to international cricket. "I suppose it is flattering that people are thinking about me," Kirsten was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.
"As far as I am concerned, my sentiments have not changed." Kirsten was speaking ahead of the IPl auction as he prepares to assemble a team for the Delhi Daredevils where he was appointed head coach in September. The job involves no more than 10 weeks away from his home in Cape Town and his three young children, a far cry from the months spent abroad in international cricket.
His new role is thought to be worth more than $500,000 (£306,000) for a little more than two months work. It has been reported that the ECB would need to double that figure to land Kirsten, who is also contracted for 50 days a year as batting consultant for South Africa. Former England left-arm spinner Ashley Giles and Tom Moody, a member of two World Cup winning Australian team as well former chief coach of Sri lanka are in the race for the top job.
‘Flattered...’
Sydney: Australian bowling great Shane Warne, so often the cause of England's demise, offered on Monday to think about reviving the old enemy as the country's next coach.
As England players flew home in the early hours following a final defeat in Sydney, Warne took to Twitter in answer to calls for him to apply for the role. "To my English followers, I'm flattered that you would like me to consider the England job," Warne tweeted. "All I can say is — I will think about it!!!"
The comment could of course be a wind-up from the 44-year-old who, at the end of January, was named as spin consultant ahead of Australia's World Twenty20 campaign starting in Bangladesh in March. Cricket Australia said Warne would support head coach Darren lehmann, providing specialist training for the squad's spinners.
And Warne later made it clear Australia remained his number one concern. "Re Eng job, I know it's created a bit of interest hahaha," he wrote. "I'm flattered to be considered, but my priorities, as always, are with the Aussies."
The England job has been vacant since Andy Flower quit a week ago after losing the Ashes 5-0 on a disastrous tour Down Under.
Warne, who retired in 2007 with a then world-record 708 Test wickets, tormented England during his celebrated career, including a 1994 hat-trick, but was also well-known for his off-field antics. Melbourne's Herald Sun urged Warne to think again about his offer.
"You should be dismissing hare-brained ideas like that without a second thought," it said on its website. "Surely you wouldn't coach the Poms mateIJIJ" tweeted former batsman and colleague Michael Slater.
one of the biggest jobs in cricket: Giles
Sydney: England limited overs coach Ashley Giles says he will apply for the test coaching role left vacant by the removal of Andy Flowers.
Giles told reporters after England's 84-run loss to Australia in the third Twenty20 international he is eager to coach England in all three forms of the game. Flowers lost the Test coaching role after England's 5-0 loss to Australia in the Ashes test series and Giles led England to a 4-1 loss in the ODIs and 3-0 loss in the Twenty20 series.
Giles said the England test coaching role is "one of the biggest jobs in cricket and I'd apply for it because I want to do it. As someone who was very proud to play for England I've been proud to coach the one-day side. To do the whole job would be a fantastic opportunity, but it's hard work as well."