"In my eyes, at the moment, you would go to Rahul Dravid...," Morgan shortlists England's next white-ball coach

Rahul Dravid, after a highly successful stint as India’s head coach, is now a prominent figure in discussions for various coaching roles. Following speculation about his return to Rajasthan Royals as head coach, Dravid is also being considered for a role with England’s cricket team. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is evaluating candidates to lead their ODI and T20I sides, with Dravid emerging as a potential choice.

ECB's search for a new white-ball coach

England's Test cricket has seen a dramatic turnaround under Brendon McCullum, with the Bazball approach revitalizing their red-ball fortunes. However, the team’s white-ball performance has struggled, evidenced by their early exit from the 2023 World Cup semifinals and their loss to India in the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal. With former coach Matthew Mott stepping down, the ECB is on the lookout for a new coach to steer their white-ball cricket. Although there was speculation about Andrew Flintoff joining the coaching staff, no concrete developments have emerged. In the interim, Marcus Trescothick, the assistant coach, will serve as the acting coach. Eoin Morgan, the former England World Cup-winning captain, has shortlisted several candidates, including Dravid, as potential successors.

"You got to remember, it's the England cricket team, it's one of the most resourced cricket teams in the world, so it is up to Rob [Key] to make that role as attractive as possible. So you then go to the best coaches or highly regarded coaches in the world and say 'Well, this is a job that you want to do as opposed to having to second guess it,'" Morgan told Sky Sports.

"In my eyes, at the moment, you would go to Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Stephen Fleming, and Brendon McCullum. I say McCullum because I believe he is one of the best coaches in the world."

Dravid's impressive coaching record

Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach has been marked by significant achievements, despite the recent World Cup final loss. Under his leadership, India reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, widely regarded as one of the team's greatest campaigns. They won ten consecutive matches before the final and secured a 2-1 Test series victory over Australia, which was crucial for reaching the World Test Championship final. Additionally, Dravid guided India to a Test series draw in South Africa, the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup, and victory in the 2023 Asia Cup. His tenure also included a memorable win against England before the T20 World Cup. While there were rumors of Dravid potentially joining Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Gautam Gambhir, nothing concrete has materialized from those discussions.

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Dravid’s coaching achievements underscore his capability and experience, making him a strong candidate for leading England’s white-ball teams. His potential move to England's coaching setup would mark another significant chapter in his illustrious coaching career.