Graham Gooch Joins Selectors' Panel (05 Apr 1996)

Friday 05, April 1996

Gooch joins selectors` contest

LONDON, Thursday Former England captain Graham Gooch became the latest big name on Wednesday to enter a growing list of contenders for a job as an England cricket selector.

Seven candidates were in the hat for the two vacant positions ahead of the midnight Wednesday deadline.

Another ex-England captain, Ian Botham, is also standing along with David Graveney, Kim Barnett, John Edrich, Fred Titmus and Brian Bolus.

The last two are though to be the preferred candidates of chairman of selectors and ex-manager Ray Illingworth.

Gooch, 42, who still opens for Essex, told Sky TV: "My heart and soul was with England when I played and was captain and, if I thought my views and my experience could help, then I wouldn`t mind being involved.``

Essex county secretary Peter Edwards said: "Our committee has thought long and hard before putting Graham forward but we feel he has a lot to offer, having played 113 tests, 34 of them as captain, and because he is someone so obviously close to the current game.

"But, I think we have still to clarify with the Test and County Cricket Board just what the rules surrounding selectors should be.

"There has just not been enough information from Lord`s about this issue and, that`s one of the reasons why a fairly embarrassingly large list is now forming.``

Botham said earlier he had been terribly hurt to watch England "fall apart`` during the recent one-day international series in South Africa and then in the World Cup.

"The big challenge now is to find a team and to make it turn England into a world power again.``

A date has yet to be set for a ballot on the jobs.

Source :: Daily News (http.//www.lanka.net)