England Sack Batting Coach Mark Ramprakash Ahead Of Ashes

Days after Paul Farbrace stepped down as England’s assistant coach, the team has sacked their batting coach Mark Ramprakash. Ramprakash revealed the news on Twitter on Friday before England & Wales Cricket Board confirmed it. Graham Thorope is likely to take charge as the batting coach now.

Ramprakash has worked with the England team since 2014.  However, England decided to sack him just a few months ahead of the Ashes given England’s recent debacles in Test. Joe Root & Co. recently lost the three-Test series against Windies 1-2. Throughout the first two games, England suffered collapses and rarely looked like putting up a good total. They also drew the ODI series 2-2 and were all out for just 113 in the fifth game.

The performances brought Ramprakash’s role under scrutiny. While Ramprakash works with the batsmen in the Test team, Graham Thorpe has been taken over the role with the limited-overs side in recent times.

Ramprakash took to Twitter to confirm the news himself, writing:

“I’ve just been informed that I will not be involved in the Ashes series. It’s been a huge privilege to support the team over the last five years. I’d like to wish all the staff and players the very best of luck for the future.”

Ive just been informed that I will not be involved in the Ashes series. Its been a huge privilege to support the team over the last 5 years. Id like to wish all the staff & players the very best of luck for the future. ??

— Mark Ramprakash (@MarkRamprakash) March 8, 2019

ECB later released a statement confirming the same.

“We will finalise the coaching set-up for the Ashes in the next couple of weeks. Mark Ramprakash will not be part of the coaching set-up for the Ashes,” the statement read.

Ramprakash departing means England will have a pretty new backroom staff after this year’s Ashes. Farbrace has already announced he will be taking over the role of sporting director at Warwickshire after the Windies tour. Head coach Trevor Bayliss’s will also step down from his role once his contract ends in September 2019.

Ramprakash played 52 Tests (2350 runs) and 18 ODIs (376 runs) between 1991 and 2001. He was also appointed the interim head coach of England Lions after the position was left vacant by Andy Flower, who took up the role of director of England Cricket.