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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Paul Collingwood 'set to become England interim coach' for West Indies tour

Paul Collingwood is reportedly set to be appointed England 's interim head coach for their upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

England are currently without a head coach after Chris Silverwood was axed following their 4-0 defeat to Australia in the Ashes.

Silverwood is one of three casualties from England's post-Ashes fallout, with managing director of men's cricket Ashley Giles and assistant coach Graham Thorpe also losing their jobs.

Sir Andrew Strauss has been appointed interim managing director and been tasked with finding a caretaker coach for next month's tour of the Caribbean.

According to a report from the Daily Mail , Collingwood is expected to be given the caretaker role, having deputised for Silverwood in the recent T20I series in Barbados.

Paul Collingwood is expected to be named England's interim head coach for next month's three Test series against the West Indies (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The report states the appointment would 'avoid a complete overhaul of the current coaching staff' and allow Strauss 'breathing space to focus on identifying personnel and refining the set-up' ahead of England's busy international summer.

In the long-term, England may look to appoint separate red and white-ball coaches and restore the role of national selector, with Strauss admitting that leaving Silverwood responsible for all three "put an impossible strain" on him.

He said: "In terms of the selection structure, my view is the current structure puts an impossible strain on the England head coach.

"And I think we've got to ask ourselves the question: what is the right structure to ensure that we've got best-practice decision-making both in terms of squad selection and with the final 11.

"So, I personally feel like someone who's got an outside view who can check and challenge the thoughts within the dressing room is a healthy thing."

Sir Andrew Strauss is leading England's post-Ashes reset (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Strauss also raised the possibility of split coaches when asked about the possibility of Justin Langer becoming Silverwood's replacement.

"Now let's take a step back," Strauss added. "What are we looking for? Are we looking for split coaches or one coach? And what are the requirements in each of those formats, so to speak, and Justin Langer. I know him well.

"On the surface, he's done a very good job of that with the Australian team. So I wouldn't rule him out, but I'm sure there are plenty of others as well."

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