LONDON: The head of English cricket hopes he’s not the next man out after England’s humiliating Ashes series loss in Australia.
England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison said on Friday he wants to keep his job and bring the organisation back to a place where there is stability and calmness.
“We do have to reflect hard on what happened [at the Ashes] but I am not saying I am clinging on for grim death, that is not what I am doing,” Harrison said. “I am doing this because I think it is the right thing for English cricket right now and as soon as that is not the case, you will not have to push me.”
Ashley Giles left his role as England’s director of cricket on Wednesday in the wake of the men’s team losing 4-0 to Australia. Chris Silverwood stepped down as England coach the next day, and Graham Thorpe left as assistant coach on Friday.
Off the field, the ECB and Harrison have also been confronted with the sport’s racism scandal in the wake of Azeem Rafiqs allegations about the player’s time at Yorkshire.
I think what I would like to do is not to be seen running away from the challenges of addressing the issues, Harrison said. This is a moment where I think I have the support of the board and it is a very tough moment, honestly the toughest moments I have experienced in my career but I just feel I need to, until literally I feel it is the right moment, keep going.”
ROOT TO STAY ON AS CAPTAIN
After England’s Ashes humiliation, Andrew Strauss has been brought back on a short-term basis to help appoint an interim head coach for next month’s tour of the West Indies.
Strauss is charged with appointing an interim head coach for the three Tests in the Caribbean starting from March 8 in North Sound, Antigua but ruled out remaining a part of the ECB setup any longer than his initial short-term position as managing director of England men’s cricket.
Strauss strongly backed England Test captain Joe Root to carry on in the role.
“It’s probably worth saying at this stage that Joe Root will be captaining the side in the West Indies,” Strauss said at Lord’s on Friday. “Having spoken to him it is absolutely clear the extent of his commitment to moving this England test team forward. He’s got incredible motivation and energy to do that.
“He’s bruised, hugely disappointed by what went on in the Ashes and I think it goes without saying there are many others in the same boat on that one.
“But he has the respect of the players, they all play for him, and he sets a magnificent example both on and off the field so I’m very happy to give him my support and make sure he has the right structure around him to take pressure off him.”
