Botham nominated as England selector

Cricket

DAVID LLEWELLYN

Ian Botham has been nominated by Northamptonshire and Derbyshire as a potential England selector. The former Somerset, Worcestershire and Durham all-rounder faces four rivals and the field could swell by a few more, since Surrey intimated last night that they have yet to make up their mind. They have until midnight tonight when nominations close.

The Test and County Board will announce the candidates tomorrow but the election will not take place until possibly a week after Easter. There are two places available, those held last season by Fred Titmus and David Graveney, the other three on the five-man panel being Ray Illingworth, the chairman, David Lloyd, the newly appointed England coach and the England captain, currently and likely to be, Michael Atherton.

Sources close to the former England all-rounder Botham say he was happy to pursue the role, but there was still a sense of surprise within the game at his nomination. However, there is no doubt that a large majority of the country would welcome his presence in any role at international level.

There is no doubt that he could impart some of his magic, perhaps even on the coaching front, but the job of selector involves a lot of travelling, a lot of watching and a lot of time out on the boundary of the game, as it were, looking for the likely lads who have the potential.

Botham's appetite for hard work is not in question, it is necessary only to consider his charitable deeds over the years for the answer, but he has some demanding commitments in the media. Apart from his appearances on the long-running BBC quiz programme, A Question of Sport, he also works for Sky television, there is a regular column on the Daily Mirror, and his speaking tours, which he has undertaken with Viv Richards and Allan Lamb.

Graveney, who pulled out at the last minute after being nominated for chairman of selectors in opposition to Illingworth, is understood to be standing, having been put forward by Gloucestershire who backed him for the job last year.

Botham is one of two names put forward by Derbyshire, the other being their former captain Kim Barnett, while Titmus and Brian Bolus have been put forward as well. Surrey are likely to nominate John Edrich and possibly one other, but officials at The Oval would not be drawn on the issue last night. With an undercurrent of opinion that younger men should be involved at the top level in the coaching and selection of the England side, it is not surprising that late last night the names of Middlesex's captain, Mike Gatting, and the former Essex and England captain Graham Gooch were being touted as possible nominations.

Since Illingworth was distinctly put out by Graveney's original nomination for his post of chairman, he is hardly likely to welcome the former Gloucestershire and Durham captain's re-entry at a lower level. It would be fascinating to be a fly on the wall at a selectors' meeting were Botham and Graveney to gain election. Graveney had made it plain prior to his withdrawal that had he stood and won the election for chairman of selectors, Botham would have figured prominently in his set-up. Botham has been dismissive of Illingworth's efforts in charge of the national team, and for his part the former Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England off-spinner has not held back when assessing Botham's capabilities in that sphere.

Jayasuriya's records, page 27