Shane Bond has registered his interest in becoming England bowling coach, with the role currently vacant following Chris Silverwood‘s promotion to head coach.
Bond, who is currently filling in for Shane Jurgensen as New Zealand’s bowling coach for the final games of the ongoing T20I series, already has several coaching positions around the world. He is Sydney Thunder’s head coach, bowling coach at Mumbai Indians, and will be an assistant coach at Southern Brave.
He was previously a bowling consultant for England ahead of the first two Tests of the 2017-18 Ashes series, and said the role would “definitely” be of interest.
“I think you look at everything that’s put in front of you, wherever the opportunities come up,” Bond said. “There was a massive clearing of the decks after the World Cup and coaches moved not only in the franchise world but in the international world as well.
“I know all the English guys. I caught up with them in Christchurch when they down for their pre-season tournament [T20 warm-up fixtures]. I really enjoyed being with the team and liked the guys.
“Whatever you’re doing as a coach, you want something that’s going to excite you, hopefully make you better, present a different opportunity – I think you look at everything that comes across your door.”
But Bond may prefer to avoid the “grind” of an international role, and instead continue in his various positions on the global T20 circuit.
“The biggest challenge of the international game is the grind of a coach,” he said. “Look at England in particular: 300 days a year on the road, it’s challenging on family life. Whether it’s coaches or players, good management of people is paramount.”
Bond, who was capable of bowling at speeds well over 90mph during his own playing career, also backed Jofra Archer to star in the upcoming Test series.
“I think you can see the impact he and someone like Lockie Ferguson had at the World Cup – the two teams who made the final arguably had the two fastest bowlers.
“When you’ve got bowlers who operate over 150kph [93mph] and can bowl like those two can, then it’s never comfortable, particularly when you get down to [the tail]. There’s no doubt Jofra’s going to have an impact in the Test series coming up.”
Meanwhile, the 11 players in England’s Test squad who are not playing in the T20 series have arrived in Auckland, where they will train before linking up with the rest of the touring party next week.
The Test specialists will train with Darren Gough, who has been brought in for two weeks as a bowling consultant, and batting coach Graham Thorpe. They begin the tour with a two-day warm-up match in Whangarei on November 12.
Joe Denly continued his recovery at England’s T20 nets session in Napier, after being ruled out for the series after straining ligaments in his right ankle. While still not fully fit, Denly had a bat and did some running and fielding in training, and it looks likely that he will be available for selection in the first Test at Mount Maunganui, which starts on November 21.
Denly is likely to bat at No. 3, with Dominic Sibley expected to open the batting alongside Rory Burns in the series, and his return represents a blow to Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow, who is set to return for the final two T20Is after England’s defeats in Wellington and Nelson, had been placed on standby as a potential replacement if Denly was not fit in time for the first Test following his own omission from the Test squad, but instead looks likely to miss out.
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