ECB to formulate new approach for selections in the England team

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is all set to bring in major changes in their selection policies for the national side. They are keen on formulating an improved policy to recruit players in the senior Test, T20 and One-Day sides. The new policy deals with scouting, assessing and selecting players with greater interaction with the players.

As a part of the new plan, the current England National Selector James Whitaker is all set to step down from his role at the end of March. During his tenure as the national selector, the English side has won as many as four Ashes, and Test series wins in India and South Africa. Also, the team won the ICC World T20 in the year 2010.

Speaking about the changes, as per the official website of the ECB, Andrew Strauss remarked that the new process is expected to simplify the process of selection to a great extent. He noted that the modern day game has newer demands and hence, a change is what is deemed to be a right move.

“The new approach will allow us to see more players throughout the county game, more often, and simplify the selection process. We will have a greater body of information, deeper insight into the talent we can pick and a better understanding of who to help develop across the red-ball and white-ball games,” Andrew Strauss, Director of England Cricket quoted.

“The game now requires our teams to play more often, at a higher intensity, in a range of conditions and across different formats. A formalised scouting network will help us to be more aware of players’ strengths and, as they will be seen more often by more people, they will have a greater opportunity to impress,” he added further.

Roles of the new selector

Commenting further on the same note, Strauss pointed out that the new selector will have greater interactions with the coach of the national team. The advertisement for the new selector will roll out next week. He noted that someone with good understanding of the international cricket will be signed as the new selector.

“Our new National Selector will coordinate with a full-time England selector, who will be appointed by the National Selector, and the England Head coach to ensure that we are scouting players throughout the pathway for England’s current and future needs. Clearly, we are looking for a person who is an excellent judge of talent and character and has experience in both talent Identification and the international game,” Strauss remarked.

James Whitaker on his departure

Meanwhile, the out-going chief selector, James Whitaker, remarked that he is proud to have been associated with the national side. He is proud of the achievements that the team made during his tenure as the chief selector.

“It has been an immense privilege and an honour for me to have been an England selector for the last ten years. I am very proud of what the team has achieved during this period and will always treasure the memory of those four different Ashes series wins and our first ever victory in an ICC global event,” James Whitaker quoted.

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