Mickey Arthur drafted into new coaches panel to mend England’s ties with county cricket

April 27, 2026

TL;DR

England's cricket team has created a new County Insight Group to foster better relations with the domestic game.
Four county head coaches, including Mickey Arthur, Richard Dawson, Alan Richardson, and Anthony McGrath, have been appointed to this panel.
The group will meet with England's hierarchy multiple times a season to provide feedback and background information on players.
This initiative is a response to recommendations from the Ashes review, which identified a need for improved dialogue with county cricket.
Rob Key, director of cricket, stated the goal is to enhance selection by incorporating county insights into player evaluation.
Ed Smith will join the ECB as a non-executive director in October to address a perceived lack of cricket knowledge at the board level.

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