England Set To Appoint Luke Wright As National Selector – Reports

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is all set to appoint former top-order batter Luke Wright as the new national selector after Alec Stewart pulled out from contention, according to a report published by The Times.

England legend Alec Stewart, who tallied 12000-plus runs with Tests and ODIs combined and effected 451 international dismissals, was believed to be the frontrunner for the post but he withdrew to continue working with Surrey as their Director of Cricket.

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The role of the national selector was abolished when former Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket Ashley Giles decided to make Ed Smith redundant last year, with former head coach Chris Silverwood handed the entire responsibility of team selection.

However, the new Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket Rob Key, who succeeded Giles in April this year, is eager to have a national selector and the England and Wales Cricket Board has already invited applications for the post.

Luke Wright Set To Retire From Sussex To Step Into National Selector’s Role

According to the same report, the 37-year-old Luke Wright is all set to announce his retirement from Sussex to take up the national selector’s role. Notably, Wright’s original contract will Sussex will run until the end of 2023.

Luke Wright, who has worked with Melbourne Stars, Rajshahi Kings, Auckland, Southern Vipers and the New Zealand National Cricket Team, is ‘unlikely to start his ECB role until in the new year’. Also, Rob Key will reportedly remain on the panel alongside Wright.

“The former England and Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright will be announced as the ECB’s new men’s national selector this week,” a Times report read.

“The role was abolished by the former director of cricket, Ashley Giles, who handed responsibility for selection to Chris Silverwood, the then-head coach. But Rob Key, who succeeded Giles in April, decided to re-establish the role and advertised the post in September.”

Wright played 50 ODIs and 51 T20Is for England National Cricket Team between 2007-2014. He scored 707 ODI runs and 759 T20I runs while with the ball he claimed 15 ODI wickets and 18 T20I wickets.

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