The England national team will be forced to shorten its staff in the backroom after the International Cricket Council (ICC) limited official team personnel to 23 at major tournaments. With the change in the rule, set to apply for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in October, the World Cup-winning outfit will have to offload a few backstage contributors for the time being, at least.
The new rule as passed by the governing council states that for category one events, a country can select only up to 15 players and eight off-field employees. Besides a team doctor (in England’s case, Dr. Mark Wotherspoon) who would travel with the squad, no other coach, trainee or mentor outside the eight-member limit will be accredited for the much-awaited T20 World Cup.
On their march towards a maiden World Cup glory back in July 2019, the Three Lions credited more than 10 support staff members for their relentless service outside the boundary ropes. Not to mention, a wicket-keeping coach in Bruce French, spin bowling coach Saqlain Mushtaq and psychologist David Young among other off-field staff meant that the team traveled with 32 people including players and the backroom team.
But now, the England Cricket Board will have to cleverly and judiciously choose who travels with the squad to Australia in October, and who doesn’t. Supposedly, the ICC’s decision to implement the above was done in order to cut the costs that go into serving these large-sized squads such as Australia, India, and England.
Meanwhile, after salvaging a draw in the ODI series against South Africa, England prepare for the first of three T20Is, scheduled on February 12 at Buffalo Park.
England’s 2019 World Cup backroom staff –
Head coach – Trevor Bayliss
Assistant coaches – Chris Silverwood, Graham Thorpe, and Paul Collingwood
Wicket-keeping coach – Bruce French
Spin bowling coach – Saqlain Mushtaq
Physiotherapist – Craig de Weymarn
Strength and Conditioning coach – Phil Scott
Massage therapist – Mark Saxby
Analyst – Nathan Leamon
Operations manager – Phil Neale
Psychologist – David Young
Security Adviser – Reg Dickason
Media Manager – Danny Reuben
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