ECB in no rush to replace Ottis Gibson as bowling coach

The England and Wales Cricket Board will resist pressure to make a rushed appointment of a new bowling coach in time for this month's tour of Dubai and Bangladesh, preferring instead to identify the candidate who it believes will give the best chance of retaining the Ashes in Australia next winter. With England due to depart in 10 days for Dubai, where they play two Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan, followed up by three ODIs and two Tests against Bangladesh, the ECB's timescale is a permanent appointment by the start of the English international summer. England's coach, Andy Flower, and the managing director, Hugh Morris, have discussed temporary options for the Dubai/Bangladesh tour, but there is little appetite for appointing a preferred candidate on a trail basis with the intention of testing him out for the job. Another option that can also be ruled out is that Kevin Shine, the head bowling coach at the national performance centre, might fill in with England temporarily. Shine will remain with the England Lions squad in Abu Dhabi, where they will play three Twenty20 games against Pakistan A, a Twenty20 warm-up against England, and then a further three 50-over matches against Pakistan A between 10-26 February. It is a logical decision for him to remain with the shadow squad, especially as his previous experience with the Test squad – a 5-0 whitewash in Australia in 2006-07 – did not enhance his reputation. England retreated from resting a host of players from the tour of Bangladesh, choosing instead only to omit Jimmy Anderson because of injury and give a rest to the captain, Andrew Strauss, a decision generally greeted with howls of incredulity. Their reluctance to gamble and blood several new players suggests that they will also be reluctant to tour without a bowling coach; someone, somewhere will be invited to sample the delights of Dhaka and Chittagong. England's vacancy has arisen because Ottis Gibson has departed to become head coach of West Indies. The ECB is so anxious to see cricket in the Caribbean escape from the doldrums that their good wishes to Gibson are well meant.