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The men who will shape the England team that will attempt to regain the Ashes in 2009 have been chosen. Geoff Miller, the former England all-rounder pictured left in 1981, has been appointed to the new full-time post of National Selector, a role that was recommended by the Schofield inquiry into last winter's Ashes debacle. He will be advised on selection by Peter Moores, the head coach, and two new part-time selectors in Ashley Giles and James Whitaker.

Interviews for the post took place two weeks ago and the interviewing panel of Hugh Morris, Dennis Amiss and David Collier felt that Miller's experience as a member of the England selection committee for almost eight years gave him the edge over other candidates such as Tim Boon, the Leicestershire coach, and Chris Adams, the Sussex captain.

David Graveney, who has been chairman of selectors since 1997, also applied for the job and had been backed by Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood, the Test and one-day captains, but perhaps after a decade in which he has made more right decisions than wrong it is the right time to stand him down with profuse thanks. He will be given a new challenge: filling the new post of performance manager and will be responsible for developing young players within the counties' academy programmes.

Miller, 55, will leave with the England team on January 26 for the tour to New Zealand. As a selector, he can claim part of the credit for uncovering the likes of Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom and Andrew Strauss, although Ian Blackwell, Rikki Clarke and Saj Mahmood may be regarded as lesser successes. It is not yet clear whether Miller, a brilliant after-dinner speaker, has been offered an increase on the advertised salary of £80,000 to compensate for the loss of some of his extra-curricular work during winter tours.

A likeable Derbyshire and Essex off spinner who played 34 Tests with moderate success, Miller is regarded as a good thing by most players and coaches - and even the media like him. Approachable, yet discreet; opinionated yet open to ideas; his first task is to identify 20 players who will be in contention for the Ashes XI in just over a year.

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