Former English cricketer, Alec Stewart is leading the race to claim the post of England cricket’s national selector. Alec currently serves as the director of the Surrey County Club. He has held the office for the past eight years and counting. Now, he’s being considered for the role of national selector.
Alec Stewart served as captain of the England cricket team. He played as a wicketkeeper batter. He played 133 tests and 170 ODIs. Alec ranked among the most capped players and retired in the year 2003. Post-retirement, Alec has been managing his time in the England cricket administration. He has extensive administrative experience. Ever since he took up a job at a Surrey club, the club has reached new heights. During his tenure, Surrey has enjoyed a successful run. He started as a club ambassador for Surrey County Club and was later promoted to the executive director’s post. He has enjoyed his share of success with the England cricket board over the past decade.
Managing director of England cricket team backs Stewart
The national selector’s post was vacant after Ashley Giles tabled his resignation in 2021. Ashley succeeded Edward Smith for the role. The chair has been empty for more than a year now.
Robert Key, currently serving as managing director of the England cricket team, has reportedly supported Stewart. Interestingly, Stewart was also in line for Rob Key’s role as the managing director. Now, he has openly backed his competitor for the selector’s role. If selected, he will take the office with a few assistant selectors. Some other names in the race are Nick Knight, Steven Finn, and Steve Harmison.
England’s split management approach
After the England cricket team’s debacle across all three formats, Rob Key has brought a different approach to England cricket. He has decided to separate the administration of red-ball and white-ball cricket. The England cricket board(ECB) appointed a separate coach-captain duo of McCullum-Stokes for red-ball cricket and Mott-Buttler’s duo for white-ball cricket. The Stokes-McCullum duo has done wonders in red ball cricket. They are having a dream run with the back-to-back series wins. Buttler-led white ball team is slowly running back on track. So it’s safe to say that England’s decision to split administration has worked for them. Interestingly, the national selector’s role becomes more vital. They now need a strong independent authority that can govern both administrations smoothly. The chosen selector will have to work smoothly with the board’s elected members.
