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Who will succeed Andy Flower as England coach?
A host of names have been thrown up in the wake of Andy Flower's decision to stand down as England's team director following the disastrous Ashes campaign in Australia, which they lost 5-0. Rediff.com takes a look at the men who could possibly take over the team.
Andy Flower, who took over from Peter Moores as England team director in 2009, will remain on the selection committee 'for the time being'. He is expected to be given a new role with the national academy at Loughborough.
After Flower stepped down to allow the team to rebuild, there is a hope in the dressing room that the new coach will bring enjoyment and flamboyance back to the game.
Check out some of the likely candidates for the job.
Gary Kirsten
The South African is the most sought after name in the coaching department. He is man with a magic wand and England is in dire need of a fresh and new approach to life on and off the field.
Kirsten has the backing of former skipper and commentator Michael Vaughan.
Vaughan, who was England captain when they regained the Ashes in 2005, 18 years after last winning it, rates Kirsten as the ‘best guy in the business'.
And why not?
Kirsten’s career highlight is the tremendous achievement India and South Africa amassed during his tenure.
Who will succeed Andy Flower as England coach?
Ashley Giles
England’s limited-overs coach Ashley Giles is considered the red-hot favourite for the post. The former Test spin bowler confirmed he is "very interested" in succeeding Flower as England's team director.
'I'd be very interested in doing the job, definitely,' Giles said in an interview with Sky Sports.
'I'm not going to deny that and I'm sure I will be applying for the post.
'If I have to put an application in over the next couple of weeks then I'll think about that and get it done.'
Giles looks heir apparent to Flower since taking over as one-day coach a year ago, but it is believed that he has an uneasy relationship with England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad and, to a lesser extent, Test captain Alastair Cook.
Who will succeed Andy Flower as England coach?
Shane Warne
England has no problem with using foreigners to guide its national team, as Zimbabwean Flower was in charge since 2009.
Australian spin legend Shane Warne has thus reportedly promised to think about the prospect of coaching England.
According to News.com.au, Warne posted a tweet referring to those English people asking him to coach their team, saying that although he is flattered that they have considered him for the post, he would have to think about it.
Australia taught England more than a few lessons after the Ashes; from the way they went about their cricket out in the middle, to the way they interacted with people once play had finished.
Warne has the charisma to rub it off on the current England side.
Meanwhile, he will work with Australia as mentor for the side's spinners in the lead-up to the World Twenty20 tournament, to be held in Bangladesh in March.
Who will succeed Andy Flower as England coach?
Mickey Arthur
Sacked Australian coach Mickey Arthur has reportedly also hinted that he is considering competing for the job of England's team director.
According to News.com.au, the South African appeared to show that he is considering putting his hand up when asked about the job during the Twenty20 clash between Australia and England in Sydney on Sunday, saying he 'could be interested'.
Arthur has remained living in Perth since being sacked as Australia's coach just two weeks before the start of the Ashes series in England midway through last year.
Who will succeed Andy Flower as England coach?
Jason Gillespie
Within hours of Flower's resignation, Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie was floated as a frontline replacement candidate for which limited-overs coach Giles is now favourite.
Gillespie has reportedly ruled out competing for the position of England team director's successor.
He announced that he would stay on his current job as the coach of county side Yorkshire at present. A report said the former quick is temporarily anchored to the Yorkshire role as he has four children under the age of eight, who are too young to adjust to a move.
Gillespie, who headed into the Zimbabwe midlands for his first coaching stint with the Mid-West Rhinos, has drawn excellent reviews at Yorkshire.
Who will succeed Andy Flower as England coach?
Martyn Moxon
The other name in the ECB frame is English cricket director Martyn Moxon, one of the most respected directors of cricket in the country.
His work at Yorkshire with younger coaches Gillespie and Paul Farbrace is being widely noted, the report added.