Kennedy appointed Scotland's head of selectors

The former batsman Iain Kennedy has been appointed as Scotland's new chairman of selectors, succeeding David Loudon who held the post for the last eight years.

Loudon's last duty as chairman was to select the squad to take part in the forthcoming World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa. Kennedy, who was capped six times for Scotland, is also a Level 3 coach, and has been a key figure in cricket development programmes in Scotland for the last 20 years as a development manager for sportscotland/Cricket Scotland, coach to Scotland age-grade and senior squads and, latterly, as head coach of the Western Academy squads. He has been a national selector for the last three years.

The selection committee now comprises Kennedy, Peter Steindl, Scotland's head coach, and Andy Tennant, the head coach of the Scotland Lions squad. To support the three main selectors, a panel of four have been appointed to act as selection advisers: Willie Morton, Bill McPate, Bryn Lockie and Colin Mitchell.

"It is a great honour to be the new chairman of selectors at this very exciting time for Scottish cricket. We have an experienced and settled national squad, with a lot of talented younger players pushing the current incumbents hard," Kennedy said. "We have invited four advisers to support the main panel to ensure that all players in our thoughts are being viewed as often as possible. Willie, Bill, Bryn and Colin will be an invaluable asset in ensuring we see and have reports on players across all divisions of the national leagues."

Roddy Smith, chief executive of Cricket Scotland, added: "I would like to place on record our thanks to David Loudon, who has given seven years of fantastic service as chairman of selectors. In that time he has played a key role in driving the national team forward through its initial path in English domestic cricket, the ICC Trophy success and our first ODI matches."