England poised to pick Marcus North as men’s selector over Steven Finn and Darren Gough

Marcus North, the former Australia middle order batter, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the new England men’s selector, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.

The 46-year-old has worked as director of cricket at Durham since 2018 and was among those interviewed for the equivalent role with England four years ago – only to miss out to Rob Key in the final stages of the process.

But the chance to help shape the England men’s teams as selector has now resurfaced, with North understood to have beaten the likes of Steven Finn and Darren Gough after a round of interviews this week. The England and Wales Cricket Board has declined to comment, with the contract still to be signed.

North would effectively replace Luke Wright, who decided to step down at the end of the Ashes defeat in Australia citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

The job is expected to change, however. Wright was not the head selector and had limited voting rights. North, by contrast, is expected to have the final say on squads in a position more akin to Ed Smith’s selector role from 2018 to 2021.

While North would be the first person from overseas to serve as selector, he has long been embedded in the English game. As well as stints at six counties during his playing days, the former left-handed batter has lived in the north-east since the early 2000s and worked in club cricket before his role at Durham.

Marcus North bats during the 2009 Ashes Test in Cardiff. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

North will head a selection panel that includes Key, the head coach Brendon McCullum, and the relevant captain (Ben Stokes for Test cricket, Harry Brook for white-ball). Andrew Flintoff, the Lions coach, is also a selector, as well as performance director Ed Barney and David Court, the ECB’s head of player identification.

Another feature of the role will be liaising with the new County Insight Group. The panel was set up to improve communication with the domestic game and includes Mickey Arthur (Derbyshire), Richard Dawson (Glamorgan), Alan Richardson (Worcestershire) and Anthony McGrath (Yorkshire).