England are set to name former Australian international Marcus North as their new men’s selector in a major shake-up behind the scenes following the team’s humiliating Ashes defeat earlier this year.
According to a report in the Telegraph, North emerged as the preferred candidate following final interviews held this week. Although the appointment has yet to be formally confirmed, the 46-year-old is expected to become the first overseas figure to lead the selection process for the England men’s team.
The England and Wales Cricket Board did not comment on the development.
North, who has represented the Australian men’s national cricket team in 21 Tests, has developed strong links with England’s domestic circuit over the past decade. As of 2018, he has been the Director of Cricket at Durham County Cricket Club, one of the six counties he has represented during his first-class career.
At Durham North, he worked closely with England Test captain Ben Stokes, who is now preparing for a key rebuilding phase after England suffered a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. North is expected to replace former selector Luke Wright in what would be the most significant personnel change since that disappointing campaign.
However, Wright’s departure is understood to be unrelated to the Ashes result and was more of a personal decision after more than three years in the role.
If confirmed, North will be part of a strong selection group that includes head coach Brendan McCullum, chief executive Rob Key, Stokes and white-ball captain Harry Brook. England managing director Ed Barney and head of player identification David Court also contribute to selection discussions.
As well as assisting with senior squad selection, North’s responsibilities are expected to include overseeing England Lions selection, strengthening communications with counties and leading a wider network of scouts tasked with identifying new talent.
The appointment could also signal a subtle shift in England’s selection philosophy. Under McCullum and Key, England have often favored players they believe have the temperament and skills to suit international cricket, even if their county numbers have not been overwhelming. This approach has occasionally led to criticism that consistent district performers have been overlooked.
North County’s vast experience can help restore that balance, especially at a time when England are reassessing several areas of their Test side.
However, his immediate influence may have been limited. England are expected to name their squad for the opening Test against the New Zealand national cricket team during the week of May 18, with a training camp scheduled in Loughborough from May 25 before the series opener at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 4.
After the Ashes disappointment, he remains one of England’s biggest selection problems alongside Ben Duckett. Zak Crawley has endured another inconsistent run, leaving management looking for alternatives ahead of the domestic summer.
Durham opener Emilio Gay and Somerset batsman James Rew are among the front-runners to make the squad, with discussions also expected about England’s spin options and fast bowlers to bolster the pace attack.
The ECB reportedly received nearly 80 applications for the role of selector before narrowing the process down to several interview stages. In its job description, the board said it was looking for candidates with “significant professional experience and intimate knowledge of international and first-class cricket”, along with expertise in scouting, talent identification and cricket analysis.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
07 May 2026 18:46 IST
