New England coach straight in at deep end

England's new coach could be given less than a week to prepare his side for what their managing director Hugh Morris admits will be the biggest summer of cricket in the nation's history.

England return from the West Indies after tomorrow's one-day series decider in St Lucia ready to face a summer schedule that will not finish until 20 September.

They will play the West Indies again in a two-Test series starting in just over a month, followed by three one-day internationals, the Twenty20 World Cup, a five-test Ashes series before ending the summer with a seven-match one-day series against the Australians.

After sacking Peter Moores in January along with captain Kevin Pietersen, England are approaching the summer without a permanent coach and with a captain, Andrew Strauss, who has just one Test and one-day series under his belt as full-time skipper.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have employed London head-hunting firm Odgers, Ray & Berndtson to come up with a shortlist of candidates for the vacant coach's position.

Interim coach Andy Flower, who has been in temporary charge of the West Indies tour, is favourite for the job, although South Africa coach Mickey Arthur and India coach Gary Kirsten will also be interviewed.