Brown on England shortlist

Dougie Brown, along with former bear great Allan Donald has been shortlisted for the job of England bowling coach. Could be bad news for the bears if he goes as the position of assistant coach would be empty right at the start of the season. With Brown's short tenure in the job so far for Warwickshire the jury has to remain out on whether it will be a good thing or not for England if they appoint him! For Warwickshire's pack of young seamers consistency has to be desirable, they were only under Donald for 2 years, then he was replaced by Brown and then Welch a matter of months ago, for another new coach to be bought into the squad after he's worked with them all winter would only add confusion.

Although the situation for England is possibly even more unsettled, I make it at least 4 bowling coaches in 5 years (Troy Cooley, Kevin Shine, Donald and Ottis Gibson) including several spells (such as this winter) without a bowling coach at all. For this reason I would expect them to be looking toward the Ashes in the winter and beyond and try and pick someone who will last the distance. Brown's inexperience and his application coming only months after being appointed to a new position at Warwickshire may count against him. Donald's own confusion over where he wants to work, which was surely the reason he didn't get the bears' job, will likely mean he has some convincing to do.

Craig McDermott is being touted as the favourite, but perversely his ambition may possibly count against him. England have already lost one ambitious young bowling coach to a higher position (Gibson) and this is where Donald, who has not expressed any ambition to coach higher than as a national bowling coach may prove to be an attractive candidate.