Gary Kirsten is favourite to succeed Chris Silverwood as England Test coach

England are understood to be closing in on the appointment of Gary Kirsten as their new Test coach.

Although interviews are scheduled for tomorrow and Tuesday, the 54-year-old South African held discussions with England’s managing director Rob Key a fortnight ago, which appear to have been influential.

Since then, The Mail on Sunday understands, Kirsten has been recruiting people to run his Cape Town-based cricket academy in his absence.

England are understood to be closing in on the appointment of Gary Kirsten as their new Test coach

A quick appointment will not necessarily provide time for a new partnership with captain Ben Stokes to bed in

That appears to support the belief within the ECB that an appointment could be made quickly. However, it will not necessarily provide time for a new partnership with captain Ben Stokes to bed in before the first fixture of the summer, against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2, as Kirsten has other commitments.

Key will allow the successful candidate to continue to work at the Indian Premier League should they wish, and Kirsten is currently contracted as batting coach and mentor at Gujarat Titans. The final is on May 29, four days before the first Test.

Kirsten, formerly in charge of South Africa and India, has been in this position with England before.

In 2019, he lost out to Chris Silverwood after the final interviews despite being given to understand he was favourite to succeed Trevor Bayliss.

Rob Key will allow the successful candidate to continue to work at the Indian Premier League