Former England captain Michael Vaughan has branded the delay in appointing a new national selector as "ridiculous," as the County Championship season is already well underway.
The search for Luke Wright's successor has dragged on for months. Wright announced his departure on January 22 and left his post after the T20 World Cup concluded in March. While the selection process has now reached its final stages—with interviews held this week—the timing has raised eyebrows across the cricket world.
With four rounds of County Championship action already completed and England set to name their squad for the first Test against New Zealand in just two weeks, Vaughan didn't hold back his frustration.
"It's ridiculous how they're announcing a selector so late," Vaughan said on the Stick to Cricket podcast. "I wanted the selector there on April 1, going out, having a look, gathering information. Luke Wright quit at the back end of Australia. We knew, didn't we? It's a long time—four months—to find someone."
The timing is particularly critical given England's recent Ashes disappointment. The ECB, led by chief executive Richard Gould, conducted a full review of the men's national setup after the 4-1 defeat to Australia this winter. That review concluded shortly after the T20 World Cup, with managing director Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum retaining their positions. The job advert for the selector role was finally published on March 18, with applications open until April 17.
In the meantime, the ECB's network of domestic scouts has remained active. A new county insight group has also been formed, featuring a panel of county coaches including Derbyshire's Mickey Arthur, Glamorgan's Richard Dawson, Worcestershire's Alan Richardson, and Yorkshire's Anthony McGrath, alongside ECB figures.
Among the names linked to the role are former England bowlers Steven Finn and Darren Gough. The successful candidate will be involved across England's entire player identification structure—from consulting on the final Test or white-ball XI to selecting senior and Lions squads, liaising with counties, and leading the scouting team. Around 80 candidates submitted applications.
For fans and players alike, the message is clear: with a crucial Test series on the horizon, England's decision-makers need to move quickly to get the right person in place.