Australian Marcus North set to be named as England Men's selector
After the final interviews for the position took place this week, Durham's director of cricket is believed to have come out on top. England are set to appoint former Australian Test cricketer Marcus North as their men's national selector. North will leave his position with Durham, which he has held since 2018, as first reported by the Telegraph. He moved to the north-east after a successful playing career. T
he 46-year-old from Australia has played in 24 Ashes matches, seven of which were in 2009 and 2010-11. He will replace Luke Wright, who resigned for personal reasons following this winter's 4-1 Ashes defeat, and will become the first non-Englishman in charge of selecting England teams. It is believed that North won the job over former England fast bowlers Steven Finn and Darren Gough. His background in administration holds him in good stead, having not only been in charge of Durham's men but also the club's women's program since the start of 2025.
He has a close relationship with Test captain Ben Stokes, who will make his Durham debut against Worcestershire for the first time in two years this week. He also worked with Stokes for three years as director of cricket at Northern Superchargers. During that time with the Hundred franchise, which is now Sunrisers Leeds, he named Harry Brook captain and Andrew Flintoff head coach. Brook has since taken over from Jos Buttler as England's white-ball captain, while Flintoff is currently England Lions head coach.
As national selector, North is expected to have more responsibility than Wright, akin to that bestowed upon Ed Smith before he was let go by the ECB in 2021. Crucially, North's experience of the English domestic system will make good on managing director Rob Key's promise to engage better with county cricket following England's humbling in Australia.
North played for Durham as well as Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, and Hampshire. He played professionally until 2014, when he joined Derbyshire.
He is credited with helping Durham rebuild after their forced relegation in 2016 due to financial reasons. The county returned to Division One in 2022 but find themselves back in Division Two after finishing ninth in the top-flight on the last day of the 2025 season. Ben McKinney and Emilio Gay, both top-order batters, are two members of the current squad who are strongly anticipated for a maiden Test cap this summer. Throughout North's tenure, he has maintained the region's reputation for producing England cricketers.
With North serving as selector, their arguments might be strengthened. North should be present for the selection meeting to choose the team for the upcoming Test series with New Zealand. The finer details will be ironed out over the next few days. Key, Stokes, and head coach Brendon McCullum will attend that meeting. Flintoff, performance director Ed Barney, and player identification lead David Court will also be present to provide their input. The team will be announced the week of May 18, and a training camp in Loughborough has been set for May 25.
It is possible that North's appointment as national selector places him in a stronger position to pursue additional positions within the ECB structure. In 2022, he was on the short list for the position of managing director, which Key eventually won. In addition, Key has received support from the ECB following a winter review, but it is unknown whether he will continue beyond the home Ashes next summer.
North is responsible for Lions selection, participation in the data and analytics departments of the governing body, the County Insight Group, and scouting in addition to having a say in the final XI.
