WHITAKER OUT IN SHAKE-UP

NATIONAL selector James Whitaker has become the most high-profile casualty of the 4-0 Ashes hammering after agreeing to ‘step down’ amid a selection shake-up.

Instead of the four-man panel that also included county directors of cricket Angus Fraser, Mick Newell and head coach Trevor Bayliss, there will be three, a National Selector and a further independent fulltime selector that he will appoint to pick players along with the coach. They will travel the country watching as much cricket as necessary while being assisted by the lead coaches in each discipline of the game, who are based in Loughborough and will act as scouts.

Fraser and Newell have been invited to apply for the new roles, but must give up their county jobs if they are successful.

Managing director Andrew Strauss said: “It will simplify the selection process.”