By IANS,
London : Graham Ford said again that he is eager to coach the England cricket team and is confident that he can get the best out of former captain Kevin Pietersen.
“I do believe Kevin is very proud of playing for England and would like to see them become the No 1 cricketing nation in the world. He’d like to be a part of that. There are a lot of things he’d like to strive for and I’d like to contribute to, and I’m sure it would be a relationship I could develop,” Ford was quoted as saying by the Times, London.
Ford, who is the director of cricket at Kent, played a major role in grooming the batsman during his early development at Natal in South Africa. Ford, who coached South Africa between 1999 and 2001, also shares a good rapport with Pietersen.
“It’s something one has to spend some time considering. I’m miles away from the specifics of what’s happened in the last week, not exactly sure what’s happened, but it’s certainly something which if offered I would explore,” Ford said.
“I have always admired English cricket, right from my young days in South Africa. To be involved in the English set-up is quite a privilege anyway, but one is excited about the opportunity of being on the big stage and involved at the highest level.”
Ford has now joined the race with former Australia all-rounder Darren Lehmann in admitting their willingness to coach the England team.