England is planning to hire former Australian player Marcus North as the new national selector, marking the first time a foreign individual has held this position.
North, who played 24 Test matches for Australia, will take over from Luke Wright, who stepped down after three years for personal reasons. Since 2018, North has been the Director of Cricket at Durham and played for the team in first-class cricket.
According to the Telegraph, North successfully completed the final stage of interviews held last week, coming out ahead of former England players Steven Finn and Darren Gough. His administrative experience has been a key factor, having played a crucial role in Durham’s recovery after they were relegated to Division Two of the County Championship in 2016 due to financial issues. They managed to return to Division One in 2022 but were again relegated to Division Two at the end of the 2025 season.
Additionally, he served as the Director for the Northern Superchargers (now Sunrisers Leeds) for three years. During his time, Harry Brook and Andrew Flintoff became the captain and coach of the franchise, respectively. Brook now leads England’s white-ball teams after his appointment in 2025, while Flintoff is coaching the England Lions.
North’s first task will be the Test series against New Zealand, starting on June 4. The squad announcement is expected on May 18, with players set to gather on May 25 for a training camp in Loughborough. North will need to focus on the opening batsmen, especially with questions surrounding Zak Crawley’s position. Emilion Gay and Ben McKinney, whom North has worked with at Durham, are both regarded highly, with Gay having a strong start in the 2026 County Championship with three centuries.
This appointment follows a commitment from England’s Director of Cricket Rob Key to engage more deeply with the County Championship, especially after England’s poor performance in Australia, losing 4-1. North’s experience within England’s domestic framework will support this initiative.