Kirsten's IPL role is the only sticking point as England job looms

Gary Kirsten's appointment as England Test coach has moved a step closer after he told Rob Key he is available and interested.

It was reported earlier in the week that Kirsten had been approached by England about the role, but Sportsmail understands discussions between him and Key — the recently appointed ECB director of men’s cricket — reached a new level on Monday, with issues including Kirsten’s lucrative IPL gig as batting coach and mentor at Gujarat Titans.

Candidates for both the Test and white-ball roles can express their interest until May 6, with interviews beginning on May 9.

But Kirsten, who coached India to World Cup success in 2011 and his native South Africa to the top of the Test rankings a year later, when they won 2-0 in England, appears to be in pole position.

One potential complication is that this year’s IPL final is on May 29, only four days before the start of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

And the Titans, one of two new franchises in this year’s tournament, are on course for the knockout stages after winning six of their first seven games.

Kirsten is believed to be willing to end his involvement with the Titans once this year’s IPL is over, assuming the ECB compensates him sufficiently. But he may insist on seeing out the remainder of the competition, giving him little time to acquaint himself with England’s Test set-up before the three-match series against the New Zealanders, the current world Test champions.

If appointed, he would provide a chalk-and-cheese contrast to Ben Stokes, who is set to be unveiled as Joe Root’s successor as Test captain and would lead very much from the front.

Kirsten, 54, is quieter and more analytical, and his experience as a Test player ought to prove