A captain under immense pressure, a coach potentially pushing a claim for the full-time job. There is much at stake for England at the beginning of their Test summer, but at least the cricket is about to start

George Dobell at Lord's20-May-20151:33

Farbrace not looking further than New Zealand

You could be forgiven for not noticing but, in the middle of all the infighting and sackings in English cricket, a Test match is about to break out.Amid the non-stop schedule that, already this year, has included a World Cup and most of an IPL season, a Test series – even a Test series starting at Lord’s – between England and New Zealand cannot demand the attention it once did. Where once touring sides arrived weeks – months even – in advance of the Tests now New Zealand have to accept the reality of their financial situation.While the first Test side from New Zealand to tour England, in 1931, played 32 first-class games on the trip, in 2015 their top four players arrived three days before the game. For many spectators, too, this series will be little more than the overture for the Ashes.That’s a shame. For this is a fine New Zealand side – arguably the best they have had – and an England side which contains six or seven youngish, exciting players who promise to play a fresh brand of enjoyable cricket. Lord’s, at least, will appreciate the tussle: a virtual sell-out is expected over the first few days.There is plenty at stake, too. No. 3 in the Test rankings will belong to whichever side wins the series; a lowly No. 7 for the loser.And, at a time when it has become apparent in England that failure will not be tolerated, this is a particularly important series for several individuals: not least Alastair Cook and Paul Farbrace.Farbrace, the interim coach, does not appear to have been considered as a serious candidate for the full-time head coach role. Not yet, anyway.A few days ago Andrew Strauss all but dismissed Farbrace’s claims of the head coach role. He described him as the “ideal No. 2” and suggested Farbrace saw himself the same way. Strauss also suggested experience of playing at international level was desirable.But such a rating is somewhat disrespectful. Farbrace is, after all, one of the few men vying for the position – Gary Kirsten is the other – to have led an international team to a global title. He was, after all, the Sri Lanka coach when they won the World T20 little over a year ago.He also has a passion for the role that few of the overseas candidates could match. While some candidates might be uncomfortable at the extent to which Strauss has prescribed their tactics – not just in the selection of Cook as captain, but in the selection of Joe Root as vice-captain and the veto over the selection of Kevin Pietersen – Farbrace seems delighted and proud to play any part in the coaching process. Not everyone needs “persuading” – as Jason Gillespie has suggested he would require to leave Yorkshire – to become England coach.That was a theme that came across loud and clear in the pre-match media conference. Underlining his enjoyment at working with the England squad – and he did leave the job of head coach of Sri Lanka for the chance to work with his national side – he clarified that he would be delighted to take the No. 1 position but happy to remain No. 2 if required.”My passion to work with the England team is still very strong,” he said. “I wanted to work with the England team. That’s why I came back from the Sri Lanka job.”I’m in a position where I’m looking after things for a couple of weeks, and see where that gets to. If at the end of that process, I’ve turned out to be someone who has a good chance of getting the job it would be a very hard one to say no to.”Whatever the job is at the end of this process, I am very happy. I just want to be involved in working with the team and helping the team and its players to get better.”Despite everything that seems to be going on, the England head coach’s job would be a fantastic one to have.”Jason Gillespie remains a frontrunner for the role. But for some, the idea of an Australian coaching England during the Ashes will be a step too far. The Ashes is, after all, meant to be England v Australia. The ECB have, too, invested in coach development (it’s part of Andy Flower’s new role) and, only a just over a year ago, Trevor Bayliss was told that the fact that he was not British counted against him during the recruitment process for this same role.Yes, we have seen Australian coaches – the likes of David Saker and Troy Cooley – form part of the coaching team. But for an Australian to lead the unit? It will grate for some. Not least the perfectly capable English coaches who would not need “persuading” to take on such a role.Cook smiled at the thought that Farbrace was the fourth coach in his relatively short stint as captain. But he needs to take some responsibility – some regret, even – for that statistic and, while he appears to live something of a charmed life in the eyes of the ECB, he will need to sustain his much-improved form with the bat he showed in the Caribbean if he is to remain captain beyond the Ashes.Cook also captained perfectly adequately in the Caribbean, but he needs to continue that improvement. Coaches and directors have fallen because of the results of teams he has captained. There can be no-one else to blame if England – and Cook, in particular – perform badly this summer.That doesn’t mean his success is dependent on England winning the Ashes – this is a young side and it would be simplistic to judge their progress simply on results – but there does need to be development.The appointment of Root as vice-captain – and the clear demotion of Ian Bell – was a sign that the ECB are grooming replacements. Cook and Farbrace are on trial.