George Bailey appointed full-time Australian national selector
Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Wednesday that former Australian skipper George Bailey is all set to become a full-time national selector after the end of the upcoming Big Bash League. The 37-year-old has played 125 internationals across all formats and was part of the 2013-14 Ashes triumph.
Over the last 15 years, Bailey has been a regular in the Tasmanian setup, gaining a wide range of international and domestic experience. However, he will now end his playing career with Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes in early February before joining the National Selection Panel for the Australian men's cricket team.
"We're thrilled to have George join the National Selection Panel. He is an outstanding leader and one of the most respected, thoughtful and generous figures in international cricket," Ben Oliver, EGM of National Teams, said of the appointment, reported Cricbuzz.
"George's international and domestic playing career speaks for itself. His extensive experience across all formats, and deep knowledge of T20 cricket will be invaluable as we head into a home T20 World Cup and beyond. We're also excited about the broader impact that George will have on Australian cricket as we work to connect more closely with players, coaches and high-performance staff across the country," he added.
Bailey, who was the first to be appointed as Australian captain in a debut game since 1877, is known to have a nose for identifying talents across the country. Tasmania’s Cricket Chief Dominic Baker added his appreciation for Bailey’s service to the state.
"George has been the heart and soul of Tasmanian cricket for well over a decade and, on behalf of all Tasmanians, I thank him for his dedication, commitment and passion for the cause. I have no doubt George will make an outstanding Selector and will provide Australian cricket with the same wisdom, drive and purpose that has defined his time with Tasmania," Baker said.
Bailey himself expressed his excitement in joining the three-member panel which also includes Trevor Hohns and head coach Justin Langer.
"I am passionate about the long-term success of the Australian cricket team and advancing the cause of Australian cricket in general. I'm confident I can add value to the selection process and that my experience will be complementary to that of Trevor and Justin. I am really excited to be joining them in the coming months," Bailey said.
