England could soon require a new batting coach after Mark Ramprakash emerged as a leading candidate for the head coach role at Middlesex.
Ramprakash, who started his career with the club and had a brief spell as batting coach before taking the England role in late 2014, is understood to be on a shortlist of four or five names. Richard Johnson, the Middlesex bowling coach, is also on the list.
Andy Flower, however, is not. While it is understood there was some contact between Flower and the club, the former England coach has withdrawn his interest after an initial meeting. Flower is currently acting as director of England cricket in place of Andrew Strauss who is absent on compassionate grounds. Hopes are high, however, that Strauss may be able to return to work soon.
Richard Scott, the former Middlesex head coach, was sacked in July. Johnson was put in charge of the team for the rest of the season.
Middlesex finished bottom of the South Group in the Vitality Blast, in which they were coached by Daniel Vettori, were sixth in the South Group in the Royal London Cup but have kept their slim promotion hopes alive in the County Championship by winning their last two games; the most recent, against Northants, despite being obliged to follow-on.
The head coach will report to Angus Fraser, the director of cricket at Middlesex.