Graham Gooch Is The Pick Of The Selector (04 Apr 1996)

Gooch is the pick of selector

By Christopher Martin-Jenkins

SUDDENLY the world and his wife are being proposed to stand alongside Ray Illingworth, David Lloyd and Mike Atherton on England`s selection committee this season.

When nominations closed at midnight last night, it was believed that no fewer than seven men had been put forward by various counties for the ballot which will determine, by April 17, which two will actually help to choose the team. The TCCB, who would not rule out even more, will announce the names this afternoon.

By yesterday afternoon it was known that three who have served as selectors in the last two years under Illingworth`s high-profile chairmanship will be in the running again: Fred Titmus, Brian Bolus and the man who replaced Bolus last season, David Graveney.

Two players, Graham Gooch and Kim Barnett, are also confirmed as candidates along with Ian Botham, whose media commitments, fierce criticism of Illingworth and worldwide business travels make him much the most controversial possibility.

Botham may be highly respected by current players but he would lose it quickly enough if he were not seen regularly at grounds

County chairmen like Surrey`s Mike Soper talk glibly of Botham being the man to shake things upThey do not seem to appreciate that what is most needed from selectors - as opposed to administrators or coaches - is cool judgment and the time and commitment involved in watching a great deal of county cricket.

Botham may be highly respected by current players but he would lose it quickly enough if he were not seen regularly at grounds, as Graveney and Bolus both were in the last two seasons.

If only for this reason Gooch seems the most sensible of the new candidates. He would provide southern ballast to a northernweighted committee and a cool, sane head to deliberations, not to mention a close working knowledge of those he has played with and against.

He is, too, close to Atherton, whose relationship with Illingworth, briefly harmonious at the start of the winter`s cricket, seems to have cooled again.

There are precedents for active players like Gooch or Barnett, and either would have much to offer. The TCCB, who would not confirm or deny any of the names being bandied around, have sent a letter to the counties reminding them that selectors are expected to see a substantial amount of county cricket.

The TCCB`s public relations officer, Richard Little, said yesterday that it was a healthy sign that the counties were giving so much thought to this year`s committee.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk)