Gary Kirsten has insisted that he would take up the job of England’s head coach only if he is allowed to be the coach of only one format of the game. Kirsten revealed when he was in coversation with the England Cricket Board (ECB) in 2015 and 2019 for the job of the head coach, he had made it clear at that time itself that he was interested in only one format and not the others, because he feels a coach always ends up prioritising one format somewhere and the other format gets affected by it, if the same coach is in charge of all formats.
Gary Kirsten, while talking to I News, said he wouldn’t mind taking charge of England’s test side or ODI side, but England’s ODI side doesn’t have any issues at the moment. It’s a side which is well set up and is performing to the best of its abilities. England has issues in test match cricket and if ECB wants, he would want to be involved with England’s test side and would try and uplift them from where they are at the moment.
England has created a world record by losing most number of test matches in a calendar year. They lost a total of 9 test matches in 2021, which included one defeat against New Zealand, 5 defeats against India and 3 defeats against the arch rivals Australia.
England test team is a project where a lot of work can be done: Gary Kirsten
England lost all these games in varying conditions. The games in India were on turning pitches, the games in England were on seaming pitches and the games in Australia were on bouncy pitches and England struggled everywhere. Kirsten sees England test team as a project where a lot of work can be done and that’s why he is interested in it more than the ODIs.
It is believed that ECB is thinking about reconsidering the position of England’s current head coach Chris Silverwood. Silverwood was put in charge in 2019 with an eye on the Ashes series in Australia and he was empowered with the added role of the chief selector as well. But, with England having lost the Ashes down under inside just 12 days, Silverwood’s job is hanging by a thin thread.
Gary Kirsten boasts of a great profile as an international head coach, as he guided India to an ODI World Cup triumph in 2011 on their home soil. He has also been involved with the South African national team in the capacity of a batting consultant in the past.
