(Cricket news) Graham Thorpe, England Men’s Assistant Coach will lead the preparations period for the Ashes when the Lions and Test specialists arrive in Australia this weekend. The management and playing group will undergo a 14 day quarantine on the Gold Coast before moving to Brisbane to play two intra-squad warm up matches.
The extended squad for the England Men’s Team and the Lions will arrive on Saturday ahead of the Ashes series starting on December 8th at the Gabba. Despite the quarantine, the team has an exemption to train at Metricon Stadium from 10th to 20th November under strict quarantine conditions.
Working alongside Thorpe will be Elite Pace Bowling Coach Jon Lewis. The Lions contingent will have a wealth of experience, including Carl Hopkinson (Elite Fielding Coach), Bruce French (Wicketkeeping Consultant) and Jonathan Trott (Batting Consultant). Completing the set-up will be Kent's Head of Talent Pathway Min Patel and Nottinghamshire coach Ant Botha, who have both been seconded from the County network for the tour.
England Men's Head Coach Chris Silverwood, Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood, Elite Spin Coach Jeetan Patel and Wicketkeeping Consultant James Foster will also join the Ashes contingent in Brisbane once England are through with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the 14 day quarantine is served on the Gold Coast.
Commenting on the appointments for the tour of Australia, Mo Bobat, ECB Performance Director, said: "We are looking forward to getting our prep period underway on the Gold Coast ahead of the Ashes and Lions Tour, respectively. The coaching team selected has an excellent blend of credentials grounded in experiences through the England pathway and the wider county game. In addition to the specialist expertise, we have individuals in our coaching team that have experienced success in Australian conditions, which will benefit the players' preparation ahead of the Ashes and Lions competitive experiences.
"For the period up until the end of the warm-up matches, the coaching team will assist both groups of players. However, once we start the final build-up to the first Ashes Test, we will then split into two distinct groups with the Lions preparing for their four-day match against Australia A on 9 December."
England Men's Coaching Team – Ashes Tour
Head Coach: Chris Silverwood, Assistant Coaches: Paul Collingwood, Graham Thorpe, Elite Pace Bowling: Jon Lewis, Elite Spin Bowling: Jeetan Patel, Wicketkeeping Consultant: James Foster
England support and Lions Coaching Team– Australia Tour
Elite Fielding Coach: Carl Hopkinson, Batting Consultant: Jonathan Trott, Wicketkeeping Consultant: Bruce French, Coaching Consultant: Ant Botha, Spin Bowling Consultant: Min Patel
Also read: Australia looking to jump across the Caribbean hurdle for semi final berth at ICC T20 World Cup
