Australian cricket legend Shane Warne says he’d like to coach the England side, although he concedes the ECB should “jump at” the chance to sign former Australian coach Justin Langer.
Head coach Chris Silverwood stepped down following the side’s Ashes thumping, where the team came within a single wicket of suffering a 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia.
Langer was also shown the door by Cricket Australia after the series, after a player-led revolt over his coaching style. Warne has previously said CA’s handling of the matter was “a disgrace”.
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Warne was praising Langer when he was interrupted by former England captain Nasser Hussain, who asked if he’d be a good coach.
“Yeah, I think I’d do a pretty good job,” Warne replied.
“I think there’s a lot to work with, but I wouldn’t be called the coach. I think I’d be called team manager.”
That’s a reference to Warne’s long-held belief that international players don’t need a coach to hone their technique, rather someone to work on the mental and tactical side of the game.
Pressed on whether he’d take the England job, Warne said he’d be keen to put his hand up.
“I’d like to do it,” he added.
“There’s so many good players in England, you’ve got a lot of depth, you’ve just got to get some of the basics right. Your catching, you can’t bowl no-balls and drop so many catches. You’ve got the players, they’re just not performing, and the question is why?
“I look at domestic cricket in England, I’ve seen a lot of England cricketers develop, you’ve got a lot of depth, but England just aren’t performing in the Test arena.”
Warne famously fell out with then-Australian coach John Buchanan during the second half of his career, with the two clashing frequently.
In 2001, Buchanan publicly questioned Warne’s fitness after India’s famous Test victory in Kolkata.
Two decades later, Warne believes it’s important for the coach to be up front.
“I think it’s honesty,” he said when asked about his coaching philosophy.
“You’ve got to be honest with the players. It’s like when you leave a player out, you don’t say (it’s down to) team balance or we’re just going with this team for these conditions. You say why you’re being left out, there’s a reason you’re left out.
“All the players might not like what they hear, but they’ll respect you for being honest with them.
“You say, listen, we’re not happy with your fitness, your spells late in the day, your ability to be consistent, economical, whatever it may be.”
Warne is the head coach of London Spirit in the Hundred, although the team won just one match last season and finished last on the table. Warne admitted the team was “poor” and “terrible”.
But he said he enjoyed the opportunity to dip his toe in the water as a coach.
“It’s really important as a coach to create an environment where everyone can speak, and you don’t take it to heart,” he said.
“People should be able to talk. But at the end of the day it comes down to the style of play that you want as a captain, and as a coach.
“You can’t be afraid to give them a kick up the backside, you’ve got to let them know it’s not acceptable.
“Honesty is the most important thing.”
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