Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan, Alec Stewart In Running To Be New English Director Of Cricket

Former England cricketers Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Alec Stewart are all reportedly in the race to take over as the new director of English cricket, as per ESPN. One of the three will replace Paul Downtown, who was in the role from Feb. 2014 but lost his job after England’s miserable performance at the just concluded World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The English Cricket Board has positions like CEO, COO, and other managers but is seemingly keen on having someone in the role of director of cricket who can build the foundations for a long period of success for the cricket team. Coach Peter Moores managed to survive even after the World Cup exit, but will be closely monitored by the new director, regardless of who amongst the three candidates is selected.

According to the ESPN report, the new director will not have to focus on the women’s team or the various age groups and the disability game, with the men’s team’s performances being the immediate priority. This is a change from when Downtown was in charge, who oversaw all of the above, but still seemed lacking purpose and power. The new director, on the other hand, may have powers similar to that of a selector, even.

England were expected to do well on the fast and bouncy pitches in Australia but the team went out with a whimper, failing to even get out of the group stages and into the knockouts. They lost to Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and even Bangladesh, winning only against Afghanistan and Scotland.

Michael Vaughn has already expressed his desire in being director of cricket. "I have a vision for the game and I think I will be one of many ex-players who will be more than willing to talk to the ECB to see what the role is and how much influence it will wield over the future structure of our game," he said to The Age.

The ECB also announced yesterday, 9 April, the appointment of Giles Clarke as its first President. He is currently the ECB Chairman, and will represent them on the ICC’s Executive Board. Also, Ian Lovett, chairman of Middlesex CCC will replace Colin Graves as the ECB’s Deputy Chairman.

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