Mike Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie in frame for England bowling coach

Two former Australian fast bowlers, Mike Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie, will join the South African Allan Donald on England's preliminary shortlist for a new bowling coach after Ottis Gibson formally resigned the post to take up the role of head coach for West Indies. England's coach Andy Flower will begin urgent discussions this week with Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, about the potential replacements for Gibson, who has resigned less than a fortnight before England depart for a trip to Dubai, where they face Pakistan in two Twenty20 games, and then Bangladesh. Donald held an interim role with England in 2007 but turned down the full-time position because of the touring commitments. He has since dabbled in media work and a coaching spell at Warwickshire without ever giving a settled impression about where his future might lay. England's thoughts are therefore turning to Australia, where Gillespie and Kasprowicz are among the likeliest contenders. Gillespie, who has been dabbling in media work since retirement, drew attention to himself only a day ago by pronouncing that Australia's pace attack will ensure that they reclaim the Ashes next winter. "I have absolutely no doubt that Australia will win the Ashes," he ­predicted in Sydney. Kasprowicz, who like Gillespie retired from first-class cricket two years ago, would be a likelier choice, if he could be persuaded to accept such a lengthy time away from home. English options are limited. Darren Gough, who would be the most intriguing choice, may respond favourably to a part-time or emergency role, but he would not take the job on a full-time basis because of family commitments and the repetitive nature of the job. Flower said: "Ottis has been a valuable member of my team and we will all be sorry to see him leave. However we recognise that being offered the chance to be head coach of your country was an offer that would be hard for Ottis to resist." Gibson, 40, coaches West Indies for the first time in a Twenty20 against Zimbabwe on 28 February, with David Williams remaining as caretaker coach in the meantime. He follows another former England fast-bowling coach, the Australian Troy Cooley, in returning to take up a position in his homeland. Another of their predecessors, Kevin Shine, continues to work for the ECB at development level.