England ditch selector role in major shake-up

England have ditched more than 120 years of tradition and dismantled their men's selection panel, handing head coach Chris Silverwood "ultimate responsibility" for picking squads.

Ed Smith will end his three-year tenure as England's National Selector when that role will cease to exist at the end of this month following a restructure instigated by the ECB's managing director of men's cricket Ashely Giles, the former spinner who was part of the 2005 Ashes-winning side.

Giles has instead handed more power to Silverwood (pictured above) who, as head coach of all three formats, will have final say in picking the England squads, with Giles keen for clearer "lines of accountability".

England's playing XIs will be selected by Silverwood in conjunction with the team captain – Joe Root for Test cricket and Eoin Morgan for the limited-overs formats.

"The current process of selecting England teams has been in place for over 120 years," Giles said in a statement released by the ECB.

"Even though this system has its merits, with advances in technology and a greater information gathering resource at our disposal than ever before, the restructure is in the best interests of helping England men's teams be successful.

"The new structure also makes lines of accountability much clearer, with Chris Silverwood, as Head Coach, taking ultimate responsibility for picking England senior men's squads."

Under Silverwood will be the ECB's network of performance analysis, talent ID, scouting, medical and sports science.

James Taylor, the former England batsman who had been Smith's deputy on the now defunct selection panel, will fill the role of head scout. He and England's men's performance director Mo Bobat will be Silverwood's main sources of advice and information, but all decisions will be Silverwood's to make.

Smith leaves the ECB with Eoin Morgan's white-ball team ranked world No.1 in both 50-over and T20 formats, having won the ODI World Cup on home soil in 2019. The Test team is ranked fourth, having suffered a chastening 3-1 defeat in India earlier this year.

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic England have utilised enlarged squads and rotated players through the playing XI. This policy saw key players missing at crucial times during that Test series defeat to India due to pre-planned rests amid the demands of bubble and quarantine life during the pandemic.

The change comes ahead of England's bumper home summer where they will host Tests against India and New Zealand, the two teams in the World Test Championship final, as well as white-ball series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled for India in October and November, ahead of the Ashes series in Australia next summer, the schedule for which is expected to be released next month.

Cricket Australia last changed its selection panel in early 2020 when George Bailey, freshly retired from his playing days, took over from Greg Chappell. The current panel consists of Bailey, men's head coach Justin Langer and Trevor Hohns, who holds the casting vote as chairperson of the panel.

Ed Smith added in a statement: "I've been very lucky to work with James Taylor, and I'm delighted that he will remain part of the new structure. My thanks to the dedicated team of scouts and to all the coaches, data analysts, medics and members of the ECB Pathway, who are available every day of the year at all hours to help England's decision-makers.

"England's two captains, Joe and Eoin, have already completed remarkable achievements in an England shirt. England has two men dedicated to playing cricket in a way that makes the country proud. The role of National Selector has been enjoyable and rewarding, and that is significantly due to my interaction with all of the England players."