Former England batsman James Taylor has been appointed as the new member of the selection committee by the England Cricket Board(ECB). Taylor will perform his role working alongside the chief selector Ed Smith and the current England head coach Trevor Bayliss. 

Taylor, who played seven Tests and 27 One-Day Internationals, retired from all cricket in 2016 after he was diagnosed with a risky heart condition at the age of 26. Since then, he has been involved in several jobs as a coach,  scout and commentator and will now be focussing on being part of the most potent arm of a cricket system. 

Taylor was himself quoted saying about the development as, “I have always been deeply passionate about the game and will bring all of my energy and experience – from the Lions, domestic cricket and the international Test and white-ball game – to this task, I’m excited to be given the opportunity to work alongside Ed Smith and can’t wait to get started.”

Chief selector Ed Smith is happy with James coming in and said, “We are excited that James is joining us as a full-time England Selector for the men’s game, He is highly determined, with a deep knowledge of the contemporary game at domestic and international level. He was the outstanding candidate"

“James’s early retirement has brought a unique opportunity for the game; he can bring his recent experiences and insights to selection, as we seek to identify the best players to drive forward England’s teams in all formats. I know that James wants to channel the dedication that shaped his playing career into the new challenge of Talent ID and selection.”

(Inputs from Wisden India)