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Ed Smith axed as England's national selector with Chris Silverwood given wider remit

Ed Smith sacked as England's chief selector with Chris Silverwood given wider remit - Getty Images 
Ed Smith sacked as England's chief selector with Chris Silverwood given wider remit - Getty Images

Ed Smith was last night made redundant as national selector, in a move that will lead to Chris Silverwood becoming England cricket’s most powerful head coach.

Silverwood will oversee selection in both Test and limited overs cricket ending over 120 years of England teams being picked by a selection panel.

Smith lost his job after a cost cutting review of the England backroom team and following criticism of the squad rotation policy during the 3-1 series loss in India.

His deputy, former England batsman James Taylor, has had his role redefined to become head scout. Smith leaves after three years in the job during which he advanced England’s use of data analysis in selection and oversaw a modernising of the scouting system.

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But with Covid causing huge losses to English cricket and Ashley Giles, the team director, becoming convinced that selection by a panel had become antiquated and old fashioned, Smith finds himself out of a job.

Over the course of the last year Covid forced England to expand their squads giving Silverwood a good understanding of the talent at his disposal. Giles, the England director, clearly believes Silverwood now has the knowledge to oversee selection as well as support Joe Root as Test captain and continue to formulate the approach to selection in red ball cricket. Eoin Morgan runs the white ball teams with SIlverwood taking less of an active role. Expect batting and fats bowling coaches in the England set up to take on a greater role in selection while Taylor and mo Bobat, the team's performance director, put in the hours driving around the country to watch county players. With footage of all county matches now available digitally, coaches can also assess players remotely.

“I would like to personally thank Ed for his contribution to the England men's teams over the past three years. Ed's input has helped deliver successes for all our England teams, and he has worked with commitment and professionalism throughout his time as National Selector. I wish him well in his future endeavours,” said Giles.

"The current process of selecting England teams has been in place for over 120 years. Even though this system has its merits, with advances in technology and a greater information gathering resource at our disposal than ever before, the restructure is in the best interests of helping England men's teams be successful.

"The new structure also makes lines of accountability much clearer, with Chris Silverwood, as Head Coach, taking ultimate responsibility for picking England senior men's squads."

Chris Silverwood, Head Coach of England applauds the players in at the end of the days play during Day Three of the Ruth Strauss Foundation Test, the Third Test  - Getty Images
Chris Silverwood, Head Coach of England applauds the players in at the end of the days play during Day Three of the Ruth Strauss Foundation Test, the Third Test - Getty Images

Smith was appointed by Andrew Strauss just before he left his job as team director and was very visible, accompanying England on tour and was often seen at home Test matches as well.

He supported the promotion of Babat, a former PE teacher, as England’s men’s performance director who is responsible for talent identification. Smith has perhaps been a victim of the system he built, which England believes can run now without him.

"It has been a huge privilege to work with great people trying to help England cricket and I am excited about watching England's continued development,” said Smith.

"I've been very lucky to work with James Taylor, and I'm delighted that he will remain part of the new structure. My thanks to the dedicated team of scouts and to all the coaches, data analysts, medics and members of the ECB Pathway, who are available every day of the year at all hours to help England's decision-makers.”

Smith took the bold decision to bring back Jos Buttler based on IPL form and stuck with him in Test cricket when he struggled. He also promoted young players such as Dom Bess, Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley but his failures include sticking for too long with Joe Denly and rushing Ollie Pope in to the team and batting him at four. His personal relationships with some in the set up suffered as time wore on. The rotation policy in India was necessary due to covid but England did not pick their strongest side for the India Test series and that cannot be allowed to happen again. A test series of such magnitude must come first.

Results have played less of a part in Smith’s sacking than usual for chief selectors. Apart from the hammering in India recently, England have been on an upward curve in Test cricket and building towards the Ashes. Silverwood now has sole responsibility and not since Ray Illingworth was manager in the 1990s, another Yorkshireman, have England had one supremo in charge of the side. Illingworth, unlike Silverwood, was not head coach as well.

“The role of National Selector has been enjoyable and rewarding, and that is significantly due to my interaction with all of the England players,” said Smith. "At such a high point for England cricket, I wish Ashley Giles, the coaches and all support staff good fortune over the coming months. I know how hard Ashley and his team work for England cricket. In particular, I'd like to wish Chris Silverwood good luck and every success going forward."