England & Wales Cricket Board Dir Ashley Giles said that the ECB "will consider appointing specialist coaches for all three formats," according to the LONDON TIMES. Giles took over from Andrew Strauss last month, when Strauss stood down after the death of his wife, Ruth. One of "his biggest jobs will be finding a replacement" for Trevor Bayliss when the England coach "steps away at the end of the Ashes, later this summer." Giles suggested that England "may revert to a job-sharing arrangement," with one coach taking charge of the test team and one the one-day team. Giles has firsthand experience of that arrangement "after his own unsuccessful spell as the one-day coach" in '12-14, while Andy Flower continued to coach the test team. Giles said, "There’s been a lot made of two coaches -- one specialist under one coach. There are a lot of different options and I need some time to look at everything" (LONDON TIMES, 1/9). The PA reported Giles "is keen to make sure nothing derails the team's potential success this year." He said, "Straussy's done a great job and handed over a ship which is in pretty good shape, heading into what is an exciting year. I have to support the coaches and players and make sure there's nothing down the line that will interfere with the direction we're going in. There's still no guarantee that we will win the World Cup or the Ashes but my role is to give us the best possible chance leading into those two tournaments to give us the most success" (PA, 1/9).
A LONG LIST: In London, Ali Martin reported the to-do list "is not sparse" for Giles, especially given a new coach must be hired. He must also manage England’s centrally-contracted players and support staff and oversee the pathways, Loughborough and "boost county relationships, all with a budget that has been trimmed to service the looming 100-ball tournament." Giles: "I certainly don’t think there’s a need to come in like a bull in a china shop. ... There’s a balance between short term and looking down the line." That balance "is something the 45-year-old admits he got wrong when previously with England." He said, "I always had in mind I would one day do Andy’s job and perhaps, if I hold my hand up, I took my eye off the short term and winning tomorrow. I said at the time that [returning with England] was a goal of mine. I don’t know if I said it to Paul, I certainly said it to my wife. But bitterness doesn’t drive me" (GUARDIAN, 1/9).
