Cricket: Change in the back room

THIS IS another big week in the life of English cricket. It is symptomatic of the state of the game that there are not many small ones. The matters to be resolved this time round, following the recent changes in captain and coach, are, in no particular order, the new post of England team manager and whether one is still required, the job of chairman of selectors, at present held by David Graveney whose term ends in October, the future composition of the selection panel, and the roles of several other specialist coaches, leg men and functionaries attached to the national side.

This seems quite enough to be going on with but had England lost the First Test against New Zealand there might have been other issues added to the list. An announcement on some, probably all, of the appointments will be made in the next few days.

Discussions on the details between Simon Pack, the international teams director, Duncan Fletcher, the newly appointed England coach, and the new captain, Nasser Hussain, have been taking place in Cardiff. It was mere happenstance that Glamorgan were playing Hussain's county, Essex.

The England Management Advisory Committee, chaired by Brian Bolus, met on Thursday. However fruitful their discussions proved to be, they were keen for any recommendations to be agreed, if not exactly approved, by Hussain and Fletcher. The appointment of the manager, endorsed in principle months ago, may be the least straightforward.

Other countries, such as Australia, with Steve Bernard, and New Zealand, with John Graham, have appointed, to good effect, full-time managers. They combine their chief function of dealing with the welter of information which these days attends international teams with a spot of man management.

Fletcher will obviously wish to be responsible for day-to-day team affairs (though he is keen to insist that Hussain is the main man) but may be happy to be relieved of mundane chores to concentrate on playing matters. It is a key appointment, for getting the right man at home and on tour will make everyone else's tasks easier. Someone like Phil Neale, a sound organiser with vast experience, who has been sacked by Warwickshire, is bound to have been considered.

The issue needs to be resolved quickly. The tour of South Africa starts in October. Either a full-time manager is in place then or England revert to the Buggins' Turn principle of tour managers, which may not be the future. Graveney, who has grown into the role of chairman and at least appears to have a vision, will probably get another three years as selectors' chairman.

The panel he will control may alter. Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting may not be kept on when their terms finish in October and February respectively, although Gooch will continue to be around as batting coach. Graveney will be flanked by Fletcher, Hussain and one other selector, preferably one of more senior vintage to lend balance.

As for the specialists, Fletcher and Hussain will have their own ideas. But as long as the right specialists are chosen, whether for batting, bowling, in which regard Bob Cottam has been effective, fielding or the mind, they can only help to fashion more victories like last week's. Hussain will not want hangers-on, he will be the boss but he cannot do it all by himself.