ENGLAND bowling coach Ottis Gibson is one step closer to taking over as head coach of his native West Indies after being given permission by the England and Wales Cricket Board to hold talks over the post.

Gibson has been overseeing England’s attack since 2007, when he replaced Kevin Shine, but is keen to test himself in a more senior role.

An ECB spokesman yesterday confirmed that an approach from the West Indies Cricket Board had been received, while Gibson himself had asked his employers for permission to speak to them.

That has been granted and Gibson now looks unlikely to play a part in England’s forthcoming trip to Dubai and Bangladesh.

Gibson was born in Barbados and represented the West Indies in two Test matches – one in 1995 and one in 1999 – as well as 15 one-day internationals.

But he enjoyed an Indian summer in his late 30s, culminating in two prolific seasons with Durham, during which time he became the first bowler in county cricket to take all ten wickets in an innings since 1994.

The 40-year-old was asked to fill in for temporary fastbowling consultant Allan Donald in September 2007 and made a good enough impression to be installed on a permanent basis soon after.

Now Shine, the man who had previously held the job of full-time bowling coach and is currently employed by the ECB at their National Cricket Centre in Loughborough, could be asked to travel with England on their forthcoming engagements in Dubai and Bangladesh.

Former assistant coach David Williams has been in charge of West Indies team affairs since Australian John Dyson was ousted just before last year’s Champions Trophy.

But the WICB have made no secret of their desire to have a more permanent appointment in place by the time they host the World Twenty20 later this year.

Should Gibson take the job that tournament would provide an early reunion with England, with Paul Collingwood’s side set to face the home team in a group clash on May 3.

■ Scotland snatched an incredible super-over victory in their opening Twenty20 tri-series match with Uganda following late drama in Nairobi.

Gavin Hamilton’s return to the side looked certain to end in defeat when the Ugandans moved to within eight runs of victory with 18 balls and three wickets remaining. But Ryan Watson came to the rescue to tie the scores on 109 before Kyle Coetzer and Jan Stander scored ten runs to Uganda’s six during the super-over.