The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced the appointment of Ed Smith, the former national selector, as a non-executive director. Smith, who previously served as England men's selector from 2018 to 2021, will officially join the board on October 1, coinciding with the conclusion of his tenure as MCC President.
Smith's appointment arrives at a pivotal moment for English cricket, following a challenging Ashes series in Australia where England suffered a 4-1 defeat. The ECB stated that Smith's role will involve providing critical oversight, scrutinizing long-term strategy, and enhancing governance across all levels of the sport, including performance cricket.
During his time as national selector, Smith played a key role in England's historic 2019 Cricket World Cup victory on home soil. His playing career included representing Middlesex and Kent, along with earning three Test caps for England in 2003.
Smith will succeed Baroness Zahida Manzoor, who has completed her three-year term on the board. The announcement precedes a busy international summer for English cricket, with the women's team set to face New Zealand in a white-ball series starting May 10, followed by the men's Test series against the same opponents beginning June 4.