Ed Smith has been removed as England national selector after three years in the role, with the head coach, Chris Silverwood, placed in sole charge of picking squads across all three formats as part of a revamped system.
Ashley Giles, the managing director of England men, announced the news in a statement on Tuesday evening, citing the need for “greater lines of accountability” and noting that the concept of a selection panel was a system that has been in place for 120 years.
Accordingly James Taylor, previously Smith’s deputy, has been moved into a new role as head scout and will report to Silverwood, who is now handed “overall responsibility for future squad selections” and will continue to pick teams on matchdays in conjunction with England’s two captains, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan.
More to follow…