LONDON – South Africa’s Gary Kirsten lost out to Chris Silverwood for the position as England’s cricket coach.
On Monday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that Silverwood had been appointed the new head coach of the England men's team.
Silverwood, 44, has been promoted from the role of bowling coach. He succeeds Trevor Bayliss, after the Australian stepped down following England’s 2-2 draw in the Ashes against Australia, having also guided them to their maiden ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 title earlier this year.
"We are delighted to confirm Chris as England Men’s Head Coach. We have gone through a thorough process and looked at all the options that were available to us. Chris was the standout candidate," said Ashley Giles, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket.
Other candidates for the England job included Alec Stewart and Kirsten.
Kirsten, aged 51, with plenty of experience as a coach, including coaching India to World Cup glory in 2011, was a strong candidate and had received the backing of ex-cricketers like Michael Atherton and Lance Klusener.
However, Silverwood pipped Kirsten and Stewart, and will take over the job ahead of England's tour of New Zealand, beginning October 27.