It's not just the players — the ECB has now lost its performance director over franchise cricket

Mo Bobath (right) helped England win the 50-over and 20-over World Cups while resuming their Test success. Getty Images/Stu Forster

England men's team director Mo Bobath, whom Rob Key describes as his «guiding hand», will leave in February to become the Royal Challengers Bangalore's director of cricket in the Indian Premier League.

Bobath, 40, worked as a schoolteacher for the England and Wales Cricket Board until he was 12 years old. He first ran the under-19s program, then became 'Head of Player Identification' and has held his current role for the last four years.

At RCB he will be reunited with Andy Flower, the former England head coach with whom he had a long-term relationship while working on the England Lions minor programme. He has also worked as a consultant for RCB for several years and is familiar with the franchise that is home to Virat Kohli.

Bobath will see out his release date and leave in February following Lions activity. concludes. They are due to head to a training camp in the UAE in November and then play first-class cricket in India in the new year along with a Test tour.

Bobat was part of England's 2019 ODI and 2022 T20 World Cup triumphs. and also rejuvenated the Test team led by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Bobath said it «literally was a dream» and that he left with «the heaviest heart.»

Key, England's managing director, said: «It's a bittersweet moment for me personally because while I'm delighted Mo has been given an incredible opportunity, it marks the end of probably the most enjoyable partnership of my career.

“When I first joined the ECB 18 months ago, Mo was the guiding hand that enabled me to put my feet under the table and continue my role. I have absolutely no doubt that without his support and experience I would have drowned.

“All anyone wants is to have an impact on what they do, and Mo can look back and see, that it influenced more than just the English language. cricket, but influenced England's cricketers. I wish him all the best.»

Bobat becomes the latest member of England's administrative and backroom staff to head to the franchise game. In recent years, Giles Lindsay joined Rajasthan Royals as an analyst and Ben Langley joined Mumbai Indians as global head of science and medicine.