England role should go to Gough – Oldham

However, Yorkshire bowling coach Steve Oldham believes South African Allan Donald is a shoo-in to replace Ottis Gibson.

Former Yorkshire captain Gough, 39, captured 229 wickets in 58 Tests and 235 in 159 one-day internationals and would be the ideal man to replace Gibson, who vacated the post to become the new West Indies coach late last year, says Oldham.

"Why shouldn't it be Goughie?" queried Oldham, 61, preparing for Yorkshire's pre-season tour to Barbados on Sunday. "He's a good coach. Even when he was here at Yorkshire when he was 16 on a YTS he was brilliant with the schools – oh yes, brilliant. He was like the Pied Piper. He can communicate, he has a good way about him. Why not?"

As if to answer himself, however, Oldham, one of the highest qualified coaches in the country, continued: "There was a lot of mickey-taking when it came up, people ringing up asking 'are you going to apply?' but I reckon I have a better job here anyway. I actually read the advert out of curiosity and it said 'England bowling coach, minimum qualifications level two.' I'm sorry, it's set up isn't it?

"They (the ECB) have spent millions on coaching education in the last 10 years and yet they advertise only 'level two.' I wonder why? Probably because they want someone from abroad. That's what I reckon.

"There are some good young coaches in England but it looks as though we are going to go down the same route as before. We had Troy Cooley, who developed and learned his trade before going back to Australia, and it's been the same with Ottis, who came and learned his trade with England and has then gone back to the West Indies. I fear it will happen again."

Oldham believes Gough should be given the job in recognition of his services, assuming he could be persuaded to abandon his lucrative new career in commercial radio.

"His image is very good. He's only just behind Both (Sir Ian Botham) in wickets for England in both forms of the game but he hasn't got an OBE or MBE. It's amazing. Those who won the Ashes but haven't done a quarter of what he's done have got honours but Goughie hasn't got anything."