Ed Smith is expected to be named as England’s new national selector by the England and Wales Cricket Board, with Andy Flower also understood to be in contention.
Smith, the former England batsman who has been working as a pundit since retiring in 2008, is the front runner for the role after James Whitaker stepped down last month. Smith and Flower have both been interviewed for the position along with the former England players Mike Selvey and Derek Pringle, with the ECB poised to confirm its appointment this week.
The move comes as part of a major shake-up of England’s selection process, instigated by Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, which will also involve Angus Fraser and Mick Newell – directors of cricket at Middlesex and Nottinghamshire respectively – leaving their positions on the three-man panel. Instead, the new national selector will appoint a new independent selector with the England head coach, Trevor Bayliss, remaining on the panel.
Ashley Giles turned down an approach to succeed Whitaker this month while the Lions head coach, Flower, who coached England between 2009 and 2014 before becoming the ECB’s technical director of elite coaching, retains a strong relationship with Strauss but is not expected to be given the role.
Meanwhile, Australia have rejected speculation linking Justin Langer with the vacant head coach role, insisting an appointment has yet to be decided. Reports on Wednesday suggested Langer was close to being named successor to Darren Lehmann, who stood down in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last month.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson said: “The process to be undertaken for the appointment of a new Australian men’s head coach will be discussed and agreed at the CA board meeting this Friday.
“No appointment has been made, and nor will any candidate be put to the board for ratification on Friday. We expect to have a clearer understanding of the approach and appointment timelines following this meeting.”
Langer, a former international team-mate of Lehmann, is among the frontrunners for the position having enjoyed success with Western Australia and Perth Scorchers during his coaching career.
