Luke Wright to step down as England Men's selector after T20 World Cup 2026

Luke Wright will step down from his role as England Men’s selector following the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Wright’s exit will mark the end of a more than three-year stint in England’s selection set-up, bringing another change to the national backroom staff during a period of criticism.

Wright informed the ECB of his decision after England’s recent 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, insisting the decision was personal rather than. Appointed in November 2022 after retiring from professional cricket, Wright cited the demands of extensive travel and a desire to spend more time with his young family as the reasons behind his decision. His exit comes as the ECB undertakes a broader review of England’s campaign in Australia.

Reflecting on his tenure, Wright described his time as selector as both an honour and a privilege. He emphasised his pride in helping introduce a new generation of players to international cricket across all formats. During his time in the role, England handed debuts to Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Shoaib Bashir, while Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse earned their first Test caps, with Carse also making his T20I debut.

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Wright worked closely with director of cricket Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum, forming a core selection group alongside captains Ben Stokes and Harry Brook. His period coincided with England adopting a more aggressive and unconventional approach to selection, at times prioritising perceived potential over county form. 

Notably, Wright previously worked with franchises in the Big Bash League and Bangladesh Premier League, England’s women’s domestic teams, and New Zealand’s high-performance system. As a player, he represented England in 101 white-ball games and was part of the 2010 T20 World Cup-winning squad.

With England currently preparing for the T20 World Cup, McCullum remains with the squad in Sri Lanka, while the ECB begins planning for Wright’s replacement ahead of the home summer, which starts with a three-Test series against New Zealand in June.