As far as batting is concerned, it is about getting the players to identify their different roles Matthew Maynard

In case anyone missed it, and it was easy to do so in the tense build-up to the Champions Trophy, Matthew Maynard is a new assistant coach for England.

His initial remit is specifically concerned with the one-day tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa - he is not retained for the Test series in South Africa.

"The role has to be defined more clearly and [coach] Duncan [Fletcher] and myself will talk about that over the next few weeks," said Maynard in an interview with the Western Mail.

"But, at the moment, it is only a winter role and I'll be back with Glamorgan next summer as committed as ever."

During the summer, he broke another record for the Welsh county when hitting his 53rd century for the club - Alan Jones and Hugh Morris each managed 52.

He has earned a testimonial for 2005, which will be his 21st season at the county, and although he is no longer captain he still relishes a battle, particularly in the Totesport League which Glamorgan won with little fuss last season.

The Lancashire-born 38-year-old was given opportunities as a player with England. But he did not even get close to cutting the mustard.

Eight Test innings brought a highest score of 35 and after 12 one-day international innings and an average of just 14 - the last of them four years ago - that was that.

Nerves tended to get the better of him on those occasions, but that should not be a problem as he teams up with his old mucker Fletcher, Glamorgan's coach in the late 1990s.

Maynard wants more people to field as well as Paul Collingwood

"In a way our roles will be in reverse in the winter," says Maynard.

"Back in 1997 Duncan saw the captain as the managing director and the coach as his consultant.

"Now I will be his consultant, but I think I learned sufficiently from him in his time with Glamorgan and hopefully I can take that into the assistant coach's role."

Batting and fielding will be his remit.

"The fielding is pretty good." he says. "Paul Collingwood is a fantastic talent and hopefully we can get another couple like him in the team.

"As far as batting is concerned, it is about getting the players to identify their different roles in the team.

"For instance, I think England need to identify people who can finish games, and I think Andrew Strauss is the sort of player who should be looking to be there at the end and guiding England home."

The future is another matter, however.

"At the moment I'm not looking beyond 2005, whether it is as a player or a coach.

"I suppose it will depend how well it goes in the winter, but after you finish playing there are two areas people look to go into if you want to remain in the game. There is coaching and secondly the media."