Paul Farbrace Steps Down As England Assistant Coach

Just ahead of the ICC World Cup, hosts England have suffered a huge setback. Their assistant coach Paul Farbrace has decided to part ways with the team to take the role of sport director at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Farbrace will leave the England camp after the ongoing tour of the Caribbean which will end in March.

Farbrace had joined England backroom staff in 2014 after leading Sri Lanka to their maiden World T20 title. Along with head coach Trevor Bayliss, Farbrace played a pivotal role in England’s remarkable change of fortunes in ODI cricket after the disastrous 2015 World Cup where they exited at the group stage. England are now the best-ranked ODI side in the world and are heavy favourites to lift the title at home. The results in Tests, however, were not that impressive with the recent defeat against Windies perfectly summing it up.

Farbrace, who had coaching spells with England women, England Under-19s and Kent, reportedly turned down Bangladesh last year. Farbrace was tipped to replace Bayliss as England’s head coach but he said ‘the opportunity to shape the future of one of the game’s biggest counties was too much to resist’. Job security would have been another reason to take up the new role. Farbrace, like several of the other England coaches, was out of contract at the end of September. With England and Wales Cricket Board not confirming anything, Farbrace perhaps thought taking up the Warwickshire job was the best thing at the moment.

Speaking of his appointment, Farbrace, said:

“I have had five fantastic years with England Cricket. It has been a brilliant experience working with world-class coaches, players and support staff. I have been fortunate to taste some genuine success and be part of the development of some excellent players, who have the world at their feet this summer.

“There is never a great time to leave an international set-up and despite what will be a fantastic summer for English cricket, the opportunity to shape the future of one of the game’s biggest counties was too much to resist. It would have been tough for me to have turned down the opportunity once Warwickshire showed an interest in me,” he added.

England, meanwhile, will be looking to move on as they gear up for one of the most important years in their history. Following the World Cup, they will be welcoming Australia with an eye on regaining the Ashes.