Marsh Joins Selection Panel

Marsh, already director of the England and Wales Cricket Board academy, takes the place of Nasser Hussain.

The decision to appoint Marsh was made by the ECB who decided that neither Test captain Hussain or new one-day skipper Michael Vaughan should be involved in the selection process.

The former Australia wicketkeeper will now combine his academy duties with aiding chairman of selectors David Graveney, coach Duncan Fletcher and Geoff Miller.

Graveney said: "What we needed to do was solve a logistical problem; Nasser Hussain said recently that he was increasingly concerned that, because of the demands of cricket in this country, he would not have enough time to look at players.

"So Geoff and I needed a further pair of legs to help go look at players; he (Marsh) works with the academy and is out there anyway so it is making use of that as a logical step.

"It is true to say that he does get around the country a lot, talking to coaches about the young players who go to the academy in the winter.

"He has to have the right continuity with the cricketers in the summer as well."

Marsh added: "There is plenty of talent within county cricket and I see my job as helping to spot and develop those players who have the potential to take the step up into international cricket.

"They don't necessarily have to be players who have been through the academy. I'll be coming into the job with a completely open mind and a real desire to try and help England progress as a side."