Darren Gough questions appointment of Marcus North as England selector

Darren Gough has questioned the appointment of Marcus North as England’s new selector, saying the arrival of the Australian will further divide the national team from the domestic game.

Former England fast bowler Gough was interviewed for the national selector role, losing out to North, who has been director of cricket at Durham since 2018.

England have been criticised for a perceived disconnect between the national set-up and the county game.

And North, who played 21 Tests for Australia, is joining England head coach and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum on the selection panel.

“This is a hard role because there’s a lot of repair job to be done,” Gough told the Stick to Cricket podcast.

“They’re saying they are trying to bring England cricket and county cricket closer together – I don’t think they are because we’ve got a Kiwi coach and we’ve now got an Australian selector.

“I don’t think that’s brought the game closer to the county game at all. I do think there’s a big, big repair job there.”

Also on the England selection panel are director of cricket Rob Key, captains Ben Stokes and Harry Brook, head of player identification David Court and performance director Ed Barney.

North, 46, played county cricket for six different teams, has an English wife and worked in the club game for South Northumberland before he took over at Durham.

Speaking last week, Durham head coach Ryan Campbell – also an Australian – said North is “as English as any Australian can be”.

“England cricket have made an unbelievably good choice,” Campbell told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

“He will test Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes and Rob Key and will ask the right questions. He will be unbelievable.”