5 candidates on the short list for Bowling Coach. Allan Donald and Donovan Miller at the top of the list, along with Dale Steyn, Mo Sheikh and Shaun Tait. Interviews have been held and a final announcement is expected in the next day or two.
"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"
I'd be happy with any of Donald, Steyn or Tait.
I'd go with AD or Tait. Steyn was a great bowler, but so little Coaching experience.
At face value, Donald would be the best for me, but I wonder whether his Bears background might actually be a HINDRANCE. With Trotty coming back and Farbs on record as saying that being ex-WCCC shouldn't guarantee a Coaching job with us, I wonder if appointing another ex-Bear in a week, might be a 'bridge too far' ! I really hope not, AD has by far the best track record for this job - and I'm sure he'd love to come 'home'.
Tait would be a good fall back option, with a decent Coaching pedigree. However, I think the fact that the Cricketer report says, "Donald and Miller, impressed", would mean it is between them.
'The only good banker, is the Lickey Banker!'
I also wonder whether appointing two South Africans (albeit one who played his heart out for England) might run counter to the desire and need for diversity. But then again, Michael Vaughan got into trouble for allegedly saying "there's too many of you" and I guess that applies equally to any race.
So it should just be a case of "best man for the job" - or woman, of course, though the shortlist seems to be all male.
The club , indeed any employer, should appoint the best person for the role, regardless of race, religeon, gender etc.
It was interesting while watching the U19 world cup that there was a total absence of diversity in many of the sides.
South Africa, England, Scotland & Ireland were the only sides that appeared to be ethnically diverse.
Whilst I largely go along with the comments about the lack of diversity in the U19 World Cup, it's worth saying that ethnic diversity isn't always obvious. For example, I have no idea whether there were any Tamils playing for Sri Lanka. And diversity as a whole encompasses more than ethnicity, including matters such as creed/religion and sexual orientation. Age diversity obviously doesn't apply to an under-19 tournament (presuming that there was some checking of birth certificates, which hasn't always happened in the past).
Also, Jonathon Trott is English, he has an English mother and was entitled to a British passport from birth.
Highveld wrote:
Also, Jonathon Trott is English, he has an English mother and was entitled to a British passport from birth.
Well, up to a point. He was born in Cape Town to a South African family of English descent. He grew up and was educated in South Africa and played for South Africa at both under-15 and under-19 level.
Infinitely more British than Eoin Morgan, who is an Irish citizen.
A bit of a curveball. Matt Mason is about to be appointed. A name not mentioned in previous reports - everyone was expecting an AD return.
And note that the Cricketer report says we are close to, "appointing another Coach". Could that be a new Batting Coach?!
"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"
I think Matt Mason will be a decent appointment. His County experience at New Road & Grace Road and his work with Western Australia & Perth Scorchers, means he does have a good Coaching pedigree. Also, his work with the ECB (and with Mark Robinson in the England Womens Team - I guess a reason for the choice) only adds to his CV.
As regards the Cricketer quote about us, "being close to another coaching appointment, which could come as early as next week", being interpreted by BR as another coaching addition, it could just mean Matt Mason's appointment. It depends upon how you read it. It might mean a new Batting Coach though - nothing against Frosty !
'The only good banker, is the Lickey Banker!'
Has the new bowling coach been confirmed yet? It's all gone quiet. It would be nice to know who our red ball overseas player is as well.
Other than George Dobell saying it's going to be Matt Mason, I haven't seen anything.
Maybe if anyone is going to the Cricket Society meeting at Edgbaston tomorrow, they could ask Paul Farbrace for an update, since he is the guest speaker.
Good news that Mason has been confirmed. As said in TLB's earlier post, he has a good pedigree.
And I'm pleased about Mo Sheikh. He's had to do a lot recently with Pop going. He's a great bloke as well. I'm sure he'll be a success.
And I was right in my reading of the Cricketer report, about another Coach coming in. I still would have liked it to have been a new Batting Coach though - nothing really against Frosty, but I think he's reached his limit in what he can do. Perhaps JT, will take on a more hands on First team batting coaching role now though - and leave TF with the Seconds / Academy (and perhaps Fielding coaching).
On the bowling coaching side, I wonder whether we've got any Spin Coaching now. Mason and Sheikh will be fine on the Seam work, but we miss Jeets' spin bowling input - does anyone know if he's still involved at Edgbaston (or anyone else) ?
"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"
The role of Second team bowling coach is new, and will be the "additional coach" mentioned.
Jeets was on the England tour to Australia, and may be involved on the West Indies tour.