MICHAEL Vaughan has stated his interest in taking over the newly-created job of director of England cricket.Paul Downton lost his job as the England and Wales Cricket Board’s managing director of cricket after a little more than a year in the job, with new chief executive Tom Harrison abolishing Downton’s job description and replacing it with the new position.

Vaughan, captain of the England team when they regained the Ashes in 2005, said on Sky Sports News HQ: “I’m not going to give my phone number on here – but I think they (the ECB) have got it.
“I’m always open to chat about trying to help English cricket, make them a better unit, see these young players go out and express their talent. It’s a big year.”
On Downton’s departure, 40-year-old Vaughan continued: “It’s inevitable there would be change – but there’s a deeper rooted problem within England cricket.
“Removing one man doesn’t make us go in the direction of being the number one side in the world.
“A cultural change needs to happen. In Test cricket we are all right but the Kevin Pietersen issue has been a debacle from the start right through until now.
“The World Cup was a disaster because of the way the team played. Many fingers were pointed at the backroom team but 15 players didn’t play to the standard they’d expect and it’s important they take responsibility.
“This is going back 20 years. We’re dated and always chase the game. Teams like South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and India are some distance away from the way England are playing at the moment.” (PA Sport)