England and Wales Cricket Board to analyse #CWC15 early exit

Matt Somerford 11:40 11/03/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Shocking exit: Eoin Morgan’s side failed to progress beyond the pool stage.

    The England and Wales Cricket Board are set to conduct a “major review” into the reasons behind the national team’s early World Cup exit, although managing director Paul Downton does not expect any changes in the short term.

    – #360view: England cricket must address attitude problem
    – Tim Bresnan: England "left behind” in one-day cricket after WC exit

    Coach Peter Moores’ position has most significantly come under fire after a campaign in which England were rarely competitive, losing four of their five games, to crash out of the tournament.

    Downton has the power in his hands to end Moores’ second spell in charge but in the wake of Monday’s 15-run defeat to Bangladesh he has so far sought to back the man he described as “the outstanding coach of his generation” when he appointed him last April.

    It is high praise that Downton still believes Moores is worthy des-pite an unconvincing record, albeit with a remodelled team, soured further by events over the past month.

    England fly out to the Caribbean for a Test series early next month and while it appears any fall-out from the ECB review is unlikely to strike before then, Downton did baulk at the opportunity to guarantee that Moores would remain in charge.

    “All I have said is that we’re still within the first year of his appointment,” he said.

    “We clearly will have a major review of what’s happened in the last six months but particularly during the World Cup.

    "In less than a month we will be in the West Indies playing Test cricket so I don’t envisage any short-term changes.”

    “We’re in the middle of a very significant rebuilding phase,” he added.

    The upcoming review could also leave Downton to feel at some unease.

    The 57-year-old was not employed by incoming chairman Colin Graves or Tom Harrison, who was appointed as the ECB’s chief executive officer last October.

    Downton will be answerable to both although he has not felt the need to ask for any assurances after revealing they had met for discussions as recently as Monday.

    Meanwhile, Downton has denied that he has been contacted by Kevin Pietersen to discuss a potential return to the national team.

    Pietersen has become optimistic his England career could yet be revived and reports yesterday claimed that the 34-year-old had held conversations with intermediaries acting for the ECB.

    “He hasn’t asked me for a meeting,” said Downton. “As far as the ECB is concerned no position has changed. We put out a statement last week.”

    Recommended