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LONDON: Ashley Giles has been sacked as managing director of England men’s cricket as he paid the price for a woeful 4-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.
The 48-year-old was appointed at the end of 2018, replacing former England captain Andrew Strauss, who will now take over on an interim basis ahead of next month’s three-Test series in the West Indies.
The humiliating reverse followed a poor 2021 where England lost nine of their 15 Tests and were beaten in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20. “Ashley Giles is standing down as managing director, England men’s cricket,” said an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.
“Off the back of a disappointing men’s Ashes this winter we must ensure we put in place the conditions across our game to enable our Test team to succeed,” said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.
Giles had found his position under pressure along with head coach Chris Silverwood and batting coach Graeme Thorpe as the ECB examined England’s uninspiring performance in Australia.
The statement saw both Giles and the ECB acknowledge the highlights of his reign, which included a maiden 50-over world title in 2019, rising to the top of the Twenty20 rankings and a current position of fourth in the Test standings.
It added Strauss will “put in place arrangements for the forthcoming West Indies tour, while the search begins for a full-time replacement.” The announcement also means Giles will no longer be involved in a review of England’s dressing room culture sparked by the discrimination Azeem Rafiq.
Strauss made his recommendations to a full ECB board meeting on Wednesday. Several pundits, including former England captain Mike Atherton, questioned whether Silverwood could stay as coach after several controversial selection decisions in Australia.
However, no announcements have yet been made regarding the future of either Silverwood or England batting coach Graham Thorpe, with Joe Root expected to stay on as Test captain.
