Re: Coach Woolmer cagey over future
Bob Woolmer has openly declared an interest in becoming England coach.
The 58-year-old is currently in charge of the Pakistan team but his current contract expires at the end of the World Cup in April.
“I have always been proud of playing for England and just missed out on coaching them [in the past] because the timing was not right,” he said.
“I was part of a side that beat Australia as a player and have a yearning to do so as a coach.”
At present, there is no coaching vacancy with England and the England and Wales Cricket Board say discussions about the position of Duncan Fletcher will not be part of the remit for the review group set up to review the team’s progress over the past four years.
But in the wake of the team’s 5-0 defeat in Australia, the first Ashes whitewash for over 80 years, Fletcher has promised to review his position before the start of the county season.
Should he decided to end his tenure after seven years in charge, there would be no shortage of high-profile candidates.
John Wright and Tom Moody are two names which have been mentioned in connection with the post, but no-one can match Woolmer’s experience, as his career also includes a successful spell as South Africa’s coach in the 1990s.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has indicated its desire to tie Woolmer to a new contract, but in a BBC interview last week, he indicated he would be “open to offers” after the World Cup.
But speaking to The Times newspaper, he made it clear it was the England job which would be of most interest if it becomes vacant.
Woolmer agrees with former England batsman Geoff Boycott’s opinion that coaches generally have a “short shelf life” in international cricket.
He believes, however, that he can continue doing the job until he is at least 65 and said: “Coaching is my life. It is what I do best and I am keeping fit through hitting catches and walking for 45 minutes every day, and swimming 1,200 metres every other day.”
SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/6285973.stm