Darren Gough questions appointment of Marcus North as England selector

Darren Gough has questioned the appointment of Marcus North as England’s new selector, saying the Australian’s arrival will further separate the national team from the home game.

Former England fast bowler Gough was interviewed for the national selector role and lost out to North, who has been director of cricket at Durham since 2018.

England have been criticized for a perceived disconnect between the national order and the county game.

And North, who played 21 Tests for Australia, will join England head coach and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum on the selection panel.

“It’s a tough role because there’s a lot of repair work that needs to be done,” Gough told the Stick to Cricket podcast.

“They say they’re trying to bring England cricket and county cricket closer together – I don’t think they are because we’ve got a Kiwi coach and we’ve got an Australian selector now.

“I don’t think it brings the game any closer to the county game. I think there’s a huge repair job there.”

The England selection panel also includes director of cricket Rob Key, captains Ben Stokes and Harry Brook, head of player selection David Court and director of performance Ed Barney.

North, 46, played cricket for six different teams, has an English wife and was working in South Northumberland’s club game before taking charge of Durham.

Speaking last week, Durham head coach Ryan Campbell (also an Australian) said North was “as English as an Australian can get”.

“England cricket made an incredibly good choice,” Campbell told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

“He will test Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes and Rob Key and ask the right questions. It will be incredible.”