George Bailey, who is still playing in the Sheffield Shield for Tasmania, has reportedly won the race to join the three-man national selection panel. The 37-year-old is expected to join the panel alongside coach Justin Langer and selection chairman Trevor Hohns. Bailey will fill the vacancy left by the 71-year-old coaching veteran Greg Chappell. However, Bailey is expected to remain available to play for Tasmania and in the Hobart Hurricanes‘ BBL squad this summer.

A highly respected figure in Australian cricket, Bailey had a noteworthy career, scoring 3044 runs in 90 ODIs for his national side. Bailey also amassed 9988 runs in his first-class career at an average of 38.6 including 11 tons and 55 half-centuries.

Bailey also played all five Tests during the whitewash of England in the 2013/14 Ashes and was a prominent figure in Australia’s one-day and Twenty20 international sides earlier this decade.

George Bailey’s association with modern-day cricket is considered to be a prominent reason behind his appointment

Cricket Australia was keen to appoint someone who had had the experience of playing the limited-overs format as a player. Bailey’s relevance and association with modern-day cricket is considered to be a prominent reason behind his appointment. Bailey was in a contest with compatriot Michael Klinger for the post. However, with the appointment of Bailey, Klinger is instead expected to replace Andrew McDonald as the Melbourne Renegades’ BBL coach.

“The panel and all three will be responsible for all Australian men’s teams,” CA national teams boss Ben Oliver said on Monday before reports of Bailey’s appointment emerged. “What we’ve tried to achieve in this recruitment process is adding in some complementary skills to support Trevor and Justin and one of those is a consideration around short-format cricket,” he added.

Ahead of his appointment, Bailey was also helped by Australian skipper Tim Paine. The Australian Test captain had helped his long-time state teammate Bailey by holding a mock interview in the dressing room during a Marsh Sheffield Shield game.

“In last week’s Shield game he was batting at five, I was batting at seven, so we were both sitting in the change rooms and set up a mock interview,” Paine had said on ABC radio.