ENGLAND’s  TEST  SELECTION  PANELS

Other Test selection panels

Australia           Bangladesh         India         New Zealand        Pakistan         South Africa         Sri Lanka         West Indies         Zimbabwe

1880

Lord Harris

Harris alone chose the team for the Test Match at The Oval

1882

Frederick Burbidge, Lord Harris, I.D.Walker and V.E.Walker

The Surrey ground authorities appointed a selection panel to choose the tea. Burbidge was a former Surrey captain.

1884

The ground authorities at Lord’s or Old Trafford or The Oval appointed selectors to pick the team for each Test

1886

1888

1890

1893

1896

1896 was the last season in which the England team was chosen by the ground authorities where Test played.

1899

Lord Hawke (chairman), W G Grace, H W Bainbridge.

The new Board of Control appointed the first official selection panel

1902

Lord Hawke (chairman),  HW Bainbridge and G MacGregor

The three selectors co-opted A C MacLaren and C B Fry to their panel. The President of M.C.C., Allan Steel, was also present at all selection meetings in 1902.

1905

Lord Hawke  (chairman), JA Dixon and PF Warner

The panel co-opted A C MacLaren and the captain FS Jackson

1907

Lord Hawke (chairman),  H K Foster,  C H B Marsham

Appointed 15 April 1907.  The panel were empowered to co-opt any two amateurs who had already been selected for the team. The panel asked RE Foster to captain England and to join their meetings.

1909

Lord Hawke (chairman),  H D G Leveson-Gower,  C B Fry

1912

C B Fry (chairman),  H K Foster,  John Shuter

C B Fry was also appointed England captain

1920

1921

H K Foster,  J Daniell,  R H Spooner, 

1922

1923

H D G Leveson-Gower, J Daniell, L H W Troughton 

[appointed on Mon 16 April 1923]

1924

H D G Leveson-Gower (chair),J Daniell, J Sharp

1925

There were no Test matches in 1925 and no panel appointed

1926

P F Warner (chair), P I Perrin, A E R Gilligan.

Wilfred Rhodes and Jack Hobbs were co-opted onto the panel.

1927

H D G Leveson-Gower (chair), J W H T Douglas, A W Carr

1928

H D G Leveson-Gower (chair), J W H T Douglas, A E R Gilligan

Pelham  Warner was invited to be a selector but declined because of the rule forbidding selectors to report on matches. As captain, APF Chapman joined the selection meetings.

1929

H D G Leveson-Gower (chair), N E Haig, J C White

G R Jackson (Derbyshire) would take the place of any selector not available

1930

H D G Leveson-Gower (chair), F T Mann, J C White

1931

P F Warner (chair), T A Higson, P I Perrin -

The panel was appointed for two years  Douglas Jardine was named as the new captain before the first Test side was chosen and he joined the selection panel.

1932

P F Warner (chair), T A Higson, P I Perrin.

1933

Lord Hawke (chair), T A Higson, P I Perrin.

Sir Stanley Jackson in reserve as chairman,  if Hawke unavailable

1934

Sir Stanley Jackson (chair),, P I Perrin, T A Higson.

1935

P F Warner (chair), T A Higson, P I Perrin.

Skipper RES Wyatt joined the committee

1936

P F Warner (chair), T A Higson, P I Perrin.

1937

P F Warner (chair), T A Higson, P I Perrin.

The selectors were again unchanged, except that RWV Robins rather than GO Allen was captain. ERT Holmes was co-opted onto the committee later in the season.

1938

Sir Pelham Warner (chair), P I Perrin,  A B Sellers, M J L Turnbull

1939

A J Holmes (chair), P I Perrin, A B Sellers, M J L Turnbull    

Appointed 28 March 1939

1946

Sir Stanley Jackson (chair), A J Holmes, R W V Robins

1947

A J Holmes (chair),J C Clay, R W V Robins.

Norman Yardley was made captain for all five Tests and joined the selection panel.

1948

A J Holmes (chair), J C Clay, R W V Robins.

The Board of Control empowered committees from now on to call in, if they wished, the captain of the previous winter's M.C.C. touring team overseas. Norman Yardley was again co-opted onto the panel as skipper

1949

A J Holmes (chair), T N Pearce, A B Sellers, R E S Wyatt

The number of selectors on the panel was raised from three to four, in order to enable them to watch as many players as possible. Also, the panel could temporarily include any other person it wished.

1950

R E S Wyatt (chair), L E G Ames, T N Pearce, A B Sellers

A.J.Holmes retired owing to ill-health, and died later in the year.  Les Ames became the first professional to be appointed a selector. Captain Norman Yardley was again co-opted. 

1951

N W D Yardley (chair), L E G Ames, F R Brown (captain), R E S Wyatt

1952

N W D Yardley (chair), L E G Ames, F R Brown, R E S Wyatt

The selectors met in Nottingham on 25 May, choosing Len Hutton as captain, and he assisted them in picking the summer’s  teams. Hutton was the first professional to be chosen as skipper since Arthur Shrewsbury in 1886-87 apart from captaining in an emergency

1953

F R Brown (chair), L E G Ames, R E S Wyatt, N W D Yardley

1954

H S Altham (chair), L E G Ames, R W V Robins,  N W D Yardley

H.S.Altham was the third Chairman not to have played Test cricket (also Leveson-Gower and Holmes)

1955

G O Allen (chair), L E G Ames, A B Sellers, W Wooller

Harry Altham,  Norman Yardley and Walter Robins were unavailable

1956

G O Allen (chair), L E G Ames, C Washbrook, W Wooller

1957

G O Allen (chair), H E Dollery, C Washbrook, W Wooller

1958

G O Allen (chair), L E G Ames, H E Dollery, W Wooller

1959

G O Allen (chair), D J Insole, H Sutcliffe, W Wooller

1960

G O Allen (chair), D J Insole, H Sutcliffe, W Wooller

G O Allen completed his seven year reign as Chairman.

1961

G O Allen (chair), D J Insole, H Sutcliffe, W Wooller

Stuart Surridge and George Heane were not elected to the committee

1962

R W V Robins (chair), A V Bedser, D J Insole, W Watson

George Heane and Jack Ikin were not elected.

1963

R W V Robins (chair), A V Bedser, D J Insole, W Watson

Herbert Sutcliffe was nominated but not appointed

1964

R W V Robins (chair), A V Bedser, D J Insole, W Watson

1965

D J Insole (chair), A V Bedser, D Kenyon, P B H May.

1966

D J Insole (chair), A V Bedser, D Kenyon, P B H May.

1967

D J Insole (chair), A V Bedser, D Kenyon, P B H May.

1968

D J Insole (chair), A V Bedser, D Kenyon, P B H May.

The committee served unchanged for a record fourth year.

1969

A V Bedser (chair), D Kenyon, A C Smith, W H H Sutcliffe.

After a reorganisation of cricket administration in England, the Test and County Cricket Board now appointed the selection panel.    Alec  Bedser began his thirteen year reign as Chairman until 1981.

Father (H Sutcliffe 1959-61) and son (W.H.H Sutcliffe 1969-70) both served as selectors

1970

A V Bedser (chair), D Kenyon, A C Smith, W H H Sutcliffe

Test matches against the Rest of the World were not official

1971

A V Bedser (chair), D Kenyon, A C Smith, C Washbrook with R Ilingworth co-opted

Cyril Washbrook was serving for the first time since 1957 - a fourteen-year gap.  Gubby Allen and Stuart Surridge were available but the former withdrew and the latter not appointed.

1972

A V Bedser (chair), D Kenyon, A C Smith, C Washbrook, with Ray Illingworth (captain)co-opted

Brian Taylor was an unsuccessful nominee

1973

A V Bedser (chair), A C Smith, B Taylor, O S Wheatley, with Ray Illingworth (captain) co-opted

1974

A V Bedser (chair), J D Bond, B Taylor, O S Wheatley, with Mike Denness (captain) co-opted

This panel had very limited experience of Test cricket and, Bedser apart, none of touring Australia

1975

A V Bedser (chair), K F Barrington, C S Elliott, Sir Leonard Hutton

Reg Simpson, Jon Murray and Arthur Milton were unsuccessful nominees

1976

A V Bedser (chair), K F Barrington, C S Elliott, Sir Leonard Hutton.

Don Brennan was nominated, as was Reg Simpson again but he withdrew

1977

A V Bedser (chair), K F Barrington, C S Elliott, J T Murray

Len Hutton stood down for business reasons. Again, Reg Simpson and Don Brennan were nominated but failed to get elected.  The captain's casting vote was now transferred to the Chairman

1978

A V Bedser (chair), K F Barrington, C S Elliott, J T Murray

1979

A V Bedser (chair), K F Barrington, D B Close, C S Elliott.

The selectors would in future be paid a small remuneration for the time spent on their duties

1980

A V Bedser (chair), K F Barrington, D B Close, C S Elliott.

No new nominations were received, meaning the automatic re-election of the selection committee

1981

A V Bedser (chair), D B Close, J H Edrich, C S Elliott.

1982

P B H May (chair), A V Bedser, N Gifford, A C Smith

The T.C.C.B. announced that it would revert to the old M.C.C. practice of having the Chairman serve between Australian tours : thus PBH May would serve until 1985. He was then asked to serve another term as Chairman until 1989 but he resigned at the end of 1988.

1983

P B H May (chair), A V Bedser, P J Sharpe, A C Smith.

1984

P B H May (chair), A V Bedser, P J Sharpe, A C Smith.

1985

P B H May (chair), A V Bedser, P J Sharpe, A C Smith.

1986

P B H May (chair), P J Sharpe, A C Smith, F J Titmus.

Alec  Bedser retired having served as a member of the selection committee for a record 24 years. 

1987

P B H May (chair),  P J Sharpe, A C Smith, M J Stewart (England team manager)

M J Stewart was appointed England team manager for three years and joined the committee.

1988

P B H May (chair),  P J Sharpe, A C Smith, M J Stewart (team manager)

1989

E R Dexter (chair England Committee), M J Stewart (team manager), D I Gower (captain).

An England Committee was set up, with Ted Dexter appointed Chairman for five years. A.C. Smith and O S Wheatley appointed the England captain to join the committee, with the team manager.

1990

E R Dexter (chair), M J Stewart (team manager), G A Gooch (captain).

1991

E R Dexter (chair), M J Stewart (team manager), G A Gooch (captain).

A team of observers was appointed to advise the selectors.

1992

E R Dexter (chair), D L Amiss, M J Stewart (team manager), G A Gooch (captain).

1993

E R Dexter (chair), D L Amiss, K W R Fletcher (team manager), G A Gooch /M A Atherton (captain).

Ted Dexter (chair) resigned during the fifth Test. On 9 December 1993 the TCCB winter meeting decided to wind up the ‘England Committee’ and restore the  traditional selection panel.

1994

R Illingworth (chair), J B Bolus, K W R Fletcher (team manager), F J Titmus, M A Atherton (captain).

Dennis Amiss stepped down to concentrate on his role as  Warwickshire’s chief executive.

1995

R Illingworth (chair and team manager), D A Graveney, F J Titmus, M A Atherton (captain).

Keith Fletcher was sacked in March and Ray Illingworth (Chairman) took over as team manager/coach.

1996

R Illingworth (chair), G A Gooch, D A Graveney, D Lloyd (coach),  M A Atherton (captain).

1997

D A Graveney (chair),  M W Gatting, G A Gooch, M A Atherton (captain).

The selectors, now including the England captain, were appointed by the ECB's England Management Advisory Committee,   To provide continuity, the selectors term was extended to the 1999 season.  New chair D A Graveney had not played Test cricket.

1998

D A Graveney (chair),  M W Gatting, G A Gooch, D Lloyd (coach), A J Stewart (captain)

1999

D A Graveney (chair),  D Lloyd (coach), M W Gatting, G A Gooch, N Hussain (captain)

David Lloyd was coach until  June 1999.   Mike Gatting and Graham Gooch were sacked as selectors in mid-August. Duncan Fletcher (not due to take over as coach until October 1999)  then joined the panel to advise the Chairman.

2000

D A Graveney (chair),  D A G Fletcher (coach), N Hussain(captain), G Miller

Geoff Miller was appointed in Feb 2000.

2001

D A Graveney (chair),  D A G Fletcher (coach),G.Miller, Nasser Hussain (captain).

2002

D A Graveney (chair),  D A G Fletcher (coach), G.Miller,Nasser Hussain (captain).

2003

D A Graveney (chair),  D A G Fletcher (coach), R W Marsh,  G Miller

On 4 May 2003 decided that the England captain will no longer sit on the committee but will continue to be closely consulted.  Australian Rodney  Marsh, Head of the ECB Cricket Academy, was then made a selector.

2004

D A Graveney (chair),  D A G Fletcher (coach), R W Marsh, G Miller.

2005

D A Graveney (chair),  D A G Fletcher (coach), R W Marsh, G.Miller.

Marsh stepped down in June 2005

2006

D A Graveney (chair),  D A G Fletcher (coach), G.Miller.

2007

D A Graveney (chair), P Moores (coach),  G Miller

Peter Moores was appointed Head Coach in May 2007, after Duncan Fletcher stood down the month before. David Graveney stood down as Chairman at the end Dec 2007.

2008

G Miller (national selector), P Moores, A F Giles, J Whitaker

Geoff Miller was chosen as “national selector” ahead of Tim Boon, John Emburey and Chris Adams.  Ashley Giles and James Whitakerwere both appointed to assist in the selection in  Jan 2008.

2009

G Miller (national selector),  A Flower(Team Director), A F Giles, James Whitaker

Moores stood down as Coach in January and Andy Flower was appointed Team Director in April 2009.

2010

G Miller (national selector), A Flower (Team Director),  A F Giles, James Whitaker

2011

G Miller (national selector), A Flower (Team Director), A F Giles, James Whitaker

2012

G Miller (national selector), A Flower (Team Director), A F Giles, James Whitaker

2013

G Miller (national selector),A Flower (Team Director), A F Giles, James Whitaker

Geoff Miller stepped down as national selector in Dec 2013.

2014

J Whitaker (national selector), P Moores(Team Director),  A R C Fraser, M Newell.

Andy Flower stepped down as Team Director in January, Angus Fraser was made a selector in February, and Mick Newell in April when Ashley Giles stood down

COACH OF THE ENGLAND  NATIONAL TEAM

1986

Micky Stewart         Cricket manager

1986 -  Sep 1992

1992

Keith Fletcher         Cricket manager

Oct 1992 - March 1995

1995

Ray Illingworth        Team Manager  

March 1995 - March 1996

1996

David Lloyd           Coach

April 1996 - June 1999

1999

Mike Gatting & Graham Gooch      Interim coach

August 1999   (interim)

1999

Duncan Fletcher         Coach

October 1999 - April 2007

2007

Peter Moores       Head Coach

May 2007 - Jan 2009

2009

Andy Flower        Team Director

Feb 2009 - Mar 2009 (interim)   April 2009 - Jan 2014

2014

Peter Moores       Head Coach

Feb 2014 -