Alec Stewart tipped to be Chris Silverwood’s England head coach successor

Mark Ramprakash believes Alec Stewart is a “strong candidate” to replace former England head coach Chris Silverwood.

Silverwood was dismissed on Thursday night by the England and Wales Cricket Board following a disastrous Ashes tour, which finished in a 4-0 defeat and occurred after a poor run of results in 2021 across the formats.

Sir Andrew Strauss, who is interim managing director of England men’s cricket after Ashley Giles stepped down on Wednesday, has been tasked with bringing in a caretaker head coach for next month’s red-ball tour of the West Indies.

Chris Silverwood has left his role as England Men’s Head Coach.

We wish him all the best for the future.

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 3, 2022

Former England batting coach Ramprakash believes Surrey director of cricket Stewart should be at the front of the queue.

“I would have thought Alec Stewart must come into the frame. He is incredibly patriotic, so experienced and an excellent man-manager,” Ramprakash told Sky Sports News.

“Again, I would have thought he has the stature that when he thinks about a strategy and a vision for English cricket, people will sit up and listen.

“Alec Stewart has an excellent knowledge of county cricket, an excellent knowledge of the workings of county cricket and dealing with committees and boards.

“He is also an excellent man-manager. If he walks into a dressing room, be it a Test match or one-day game, all the players will listen to him. He commands the respect of all the players.

“I think he is an excellent candidate, I am not saying he will get the job, but I think someone with his credentials is a very strong candidate.”

Michael Atherton, who admitted the dismissal of Silverwood was “inevitable” on Thursday, told Sky