Ottis Gibson quits England to take over as South Africa boss

England bowling coach Ottis Gibson is leaving his role to become the new head coach of South Africa. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

Gibson, pictured, who began his second stint with England in early 2015, will leave his post at the end of the Test series against West Indies.

England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss said: “I would like to place on record my thanks to Ottis Gibson for his services to English cricket.

“Ottis has been an integral part of the England team in his two stints as bowling coach.

“His experience, tactical awareness and understanding of bowling in all conditions has benefited our approach and has helped our bowling unit develop greatly across all formats of the game.

“He is an ambitious man and when this opportunity presented itself it was difficult for him to turn down.

“On behalf of the ECB, I would like to wish him every success in the next chapter of his career.”

Gibson’s decision leaves England searching for a new fast bowling coach ahead of the Ashes in Australia, which begins in November.

England head coach Trevor Bayliss said: “Ottis has played a vital role in our progress over the past few years. His knowledge of the international game and the way he has supported all our bowlers in their  development has been immeasurable.”

For the deciding third Windies Test at Lord’s next week, Tom Westley has been spared the axe in an unchanged 13-man England squad.

Westley’s place has come under scrutiny following three single-figure scores in the Investec series as he has struggled to convince that he is the long-term solution to the problem No 3 position in the batting order.

But England have decided to keep faith with the Essex batsman and it seems he will be given another opportunity to press his claims for the Ashes trip to Australia.

Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan, both of whom made important second-innings half-centuries in the five-wicket defeat to the Windies at Headingley, have also been retained as England opted against bolstering their batting line-up.

Middlesex seam bowler Toby Roland-Jones and Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane were the players left out of the XI in Leeds but will be pushing for inclusion at Lord’s.

England squad: J Root (captain), M Ali, J Anderson, J Bairstow (wkt), S Broad, A Cook, M Crane, D Malan, T Roland-Jones, B Stokes, M Stoneman, T Westley, C Woakes.