Former England pacer Darren Gough has raised concerns over the appointment of Marcus North as England’s new selector, suggesting it will further widen the gap between the national set-up and county cricket.
North, who has been Durham’s director of cricket since 2018, was shortlisted for the role ahead of Gough, who also went through the interview process.
He now joins head coach Brendon McCullum, managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key, captains Ben Stokes and Harry Brook, player identity David Court and director of performance Ed Barney in the England selection set-up.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Gough said the role represented a “major overhaul” for English cricket, while questioning whether the current system was actually strengthening the link between county and international cricket.
“It’s a tough role because there’s a lot of repair work to be done,” Goff said.
“They say they’re trying to bring England cricket and county cricket closer together – I think they’re not because we’ve got a Kiwi coach and now we’ve got an Australian selector.
“I don’t think it’s brought the game closer to the county game. I think there’s a big, big repair job there.”
He said the North was seen as a “safer” option.
“He’s Australian – that’s not a safe way to go, is it?” Goff said. “I didn’t agree because Key didn’t think I would enjoy the role and I wouldn’t have gone for it.
“I love sports, I’m into data and writing. I write a lot and watch a lot of cricket.
“I think it’s because he’s the director of cricket at Durham. I would say as the director of cricket at Durham, he doesn’t see as much cricket as he should.”
Gough also suggested that North’s current county role in Durham could limit viewing time for domestic cricket to fully appreciate the wider system.
Former England pacer Steven Finn was among those interviewed for the post, but Goff questioned his readiness due to his limited managerial experience at this stage of his career.
“For this role, I don’t think he should have even had an interview,” Goff said when asked about Finn. “No management skills, no training skills.
“I don’t think he should have been anywhere near interviewing for that job. Nowhere near.
“Maybe four more years if he gets a bit more experience. He could easily do the job in four years, he’s got no problem – a big guy. It’s got to be someone with experience in those areas.”