Gough questions England's appointment of North

Breaking news from the world of sport: Gough questions England's appointment of NorthImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Darren Gough played 58 Tests for England between 1994 and 2003ByStephan Shemilt Cricket correspondentPublished8 minutes agoDarren 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.

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"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 Radio 5 Sports Extra.

"He will test Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes and Rob Key and will ask the right questions. He will be unbelievable. "Gough, 55, played 58 Tests for England in a 12-year international career between 1994 and 2006.

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He spent just over two years as Yorkshire director of cricket from December 2021, taking on the role in the wake of the racism controversy at Headingley. Gough said that Key's explanation for giving the role to North over him was because the Australian is a "safer" option. "He's Australian – that's not a safer option, is it?

"Key didn't think I'd enjoy the role, which I didn't agree with either because I wouldn't have gone for that role. "I love the sport and I'm into data and writing. I write a lot and watch a lot of cricket.

"I think it's because he's director of cricket at Durham. I would say as director of cricket at Durham he doesn't watch as much cricket as he probably should. "Steven Finn was another of the candidates to be interviewed in the final round of the selection process.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.