On this present day in 2015: Paul Downton sacked as managing director of England cricket

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Paul Downton ended a torrid 14-month tenure as managing director of England cricket when he was sacked on this present day in 2015.

The previous Take a look at wicketkeeper was judged to have the correct mix of on-field expertise and enterprise savvy from his time within the metropolis, however was overwhelmed by occasions throughout his turbulent reign.

Taking up from Hugh Morris, he picked up the aftermath of the brutal 2013/14 Ashes whitewash and instantly took possession of the choice to ex-communicate star batter Kevin Pietersen, whose personal relationship with the squad had fallen into disrepair.

The ECB was later compelled to apologise for breaching a settlement settlement with Pietersen following feedback made by Downton to BBC’s Take a look at Match Particular.

Downton’s judgement was questioned when he reappointed Peter Moores for a second stint in command of the workforce regardless of his earlier failure within the function, hailing him because the “greatest coach of his technology” and “the way forward for English cricket”.

Though Moores narrowly outlasted him, a dire efficiency on the 2015 World Cup mirrored badly on each males.

New ECB chief government Tom Harrison made the decision to oust Downton whereas the Take a look at workforce have been on tour within the West Indies, declaring: “Paul is a person of nice integrity. As we speak has been a really robust day for the ECB and we’ve made a tricky resolution on a extremely revered member of workers.

“As we speak is about the way forward for cricket. As we speak is about the place this organisation is about to go over the following 4 to 5 years.”

The transient for Downton’s job was tightened and rebranded, attracting a extra present determine within the form of current Take a look at captain Andrew Strauss. With a renewed emphasis on elite efficiency, he changed Moores with Trevor Bayliss and set the groundwork for England’s World Cup triumph in 2019.

Downton’s profession in administration would get a second chapter, although, returning as director of cricket at his former county, Kent.

His time at Canterbury proved extra productive, overseeing promotion to Division One of many County Championship in his first yr and subsequent titles within the T20 and 50-over codecs. He retired on the finish of the 2023 marketing campaign amid plentiful reward for his work.