England: The Next Chapter

Where do England go from here? Who will lead them there? And can they ever reclaim that number one spot?

At the moment England are fourth in the ICC World rankings - trailing behind South Africa, India and Australia respectively in Test cricket. 

Our ICC Twenty20 Championships standing has sunk even further. As we sit seventh in the table it is rather hard to see how we ever won the World T20 title back in 2010. 

Four years. Four years passes and we've had another Olympics, another leap year, a presidential election. Four years and England have fallen from hero to zero. 

After a disastrous whitewash in the Ashes against Australia at the end of 2013, England coach Andy Flower has decided to step down. The technical director expalins his decision to leave his post; "To start with a clean slate and begin to instill methods to ensure England are moving in the right direction will be incredibly exciting. But I do not feel like I am in a position to undertake that challenge."

It seems Alastair Cook will keep his captaincy though, as Flower goes on to say; "following the recent very disappointing Ashes defeat it is clear to me that this is now the time for England cricket, led by Alastair Cook, to rebuild with a new set of values and goals."

Andy Flower had a very impressive record after last summer; leading the England squad to three Ashes wins and the World Twenty20 in 2010.

The new managing director Paul Downton spoke highly of Flower; "Andy has been the most successful coach in England's history and we at the ECB are very disappointed to see him leave the role as team director. We respect his decision and the reasons for it but we are keen to keep Andy's experience and outstanding knowledge within the ECB." Downton and Flower are in the "advanced stages" talking over a new role at the ECB thought to be coaching the young players in England's academy in Loughborough. 

It definitely doesn't seem like we've seen the last of Flower.

UPDATE: However, we have been told that we have already seen the last time Kevin Pietersen will wear the three lions on his chest. How will this shape the future of England cricket? Who will lead England there? England limited-overs coach Ashley Giles? Gary Kirsten: head coach of IPL team Delhi Daredevils? Maybe Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell? Or one of the former coaches of the Sri Lanka national side: Graham Ford and Tom Moody? We've been told a decision will be made within the next two weeks.

Ball on Willow.