England’s search for a new selector may be over before it even began.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed former England all-rounder Luke Wright will step down from his position after this year’s T20 World Cup, which wraps up on March 8.
Despite the decision being announced in the wake of England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, it was one made by Wright rather than him being turfed out.
Luke Wright steps down as England Men’s selector
“It has been a true honour and privilege to serve as an England’s Men’s selector over the past three years,” Wright said.
“I have fully immersed myself in the role and am incredibly proud of the players we have brought through.
“The role demands significant travel and time away from home and with a young family the time feels right to pass the baton on to the next person.
“I now look forward with real interest and enthusiasm to whatever cricketing roles the future may hold.”
Attention now shifts towards who will fill the void left by Wright.
Give it to Gough?
One name who could take up the role is England great Darren Gough, although his keenness to become a selector may have been expressed with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.
When asked if he would be the next selector on talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs, Gough cheekily claimed he would still put himself forward despite being 55 years old.
“I’m not selecting, but if I was selecting, I would probably select myself,” Gough said.
“I’d select myself for anything.”
Time will tell whether Gough does indeed replace Wright in the role, but if he does, the 58-Test veteran already has a vision on what he’d do differently.
What would Gough do differently as a selector?
“It’s got to be someone who can question both sides,” Gough said.
“I think the problem with Luke, and it’s not his fault, he wasn’t picking the side, he was putting players forward and then it was up to [Ben] Stokes, [Brendon] McCullum, [Rob] Key to decide.
“I know Steve Harmison‘s been on here and called it a ‘yes man job’, and it might have ended it up that way. I think he might want a bit more responsibility, I don’t know.
“Remember, we’ve got a World Cup here and it’s the wrong time to be making big decisions about who’s going to do what with a World Cup around the corner, because we want England to do well in that.
“The job has got to be more hands on. You’ve got to be part of that selection, not just putting players forward. You’ve got to be seen at the cricket grounds.”
‘I’ve not seen them’
Gough’s calls for selectors to be a visible presence at county matches echoes what former Australia international and Northamptonshire coach Darren Lehmann claimed during the latest Ashes series.
Speaking to the BBC, Lehmann, who has been in the Northamptonshire post since October 2024, said his team’s matches had largely been a ghost town when it comes to selectors.
Lehmann was discussing England’s woes when it came to spin bowling, only to change gears and said: “Who are the selectors, by the way?
“Because I’ve not seen them in my time at county cricket.
“I’ve never spoken to a selector, I’ve never seen a selector and I’m a county coach. Unbelievable.”
Gough shared Lehmann’s bafflement when it came to not knowing who the selectors are as he implored whoever gets the role next to show ‘county cricket matters’.
“Now if I was a selector, I’d want to be seen at the grounds that are not as trendy,” Gough said.
“It’s easy to pop up to Headingley or pop to the Oval or pop up to Old Trafford. You’ve got to be going to Bristol, you’ve got to be going to Northampton.
“You’ve got to be showing country cricket matters and people that play county cricket who do well have got a chance for playing for England.
“The messaging from the top to county cricket has been a negative one. It’s going to take a lot of clearing up and a lot of goodwill going forward. It needs someone who is going to go in there and put the hours in by watching.
“You don’t need to go and see Harry Brook bat. What’s the point in me going to see Harry Brook if I’m a selector? I know how good he is, I’ve seen that.”
