Shane Warne, the Australian cricket legend, has expressed his interest in becoming the England head coach. He claimed that he would do a good job if given the opportunity.
The position is taken over by the former all-rounder, for the time being. However, the full-time role has yet to be finalised.
“I’d like to do it, it’s a great time to be England coach,” said Warne on Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
“I think I’d do a pretty good job, there’s a lot to work with. There are so many good players in England and a lot of depth, but you’ve got to get some of the basics right. You can’t bowl no-balls and drop so many catches, but you’ve got the players, they’re just not performing.”
“I think there’s a lot to work with, but I wouldn’t be called the coach.” He also added. “I think I’d be called team manager.”
This was a reference to Warne’s belief that the international players need someone on the tactical and mental sides of the game, rather than someone to hone their techniques.
Warne is currently the coach of the London Spirits’ in the Men’s Hundred.
Another contender for the role is Justin Langer, the former Australian coach.
Warne criticised Cricket Australia’s handling of the Langer’s exit after victory in the Ashes series.
“Cricket Australia were disgraceful in the way they handled it, winning an Ashes series and a World Cup, it doesn’t get much bigger than that. But [Langer] was a dead man walking. When I didn’t hear the captain or any other players sticking up for him, saying he was fantastic, I found that really disappointing,” said Warne.
“Why couldn’t Cricket Australia come out and say they were not renewing his contract straight away but would wait until the end of the summer, see who the best candidate is, and if Langer is still the best candidate give him a contract? If I were England I’d be jumping at him.”
England is in a transitional phase. The series against West Indies will be a deciding one considering the current phase. For Australia, the exit of Justin Langer has disappointed many Ex-Australian players including Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.