Michael Vaughan has been given an influential voice towards deciding what direction England take as they attempt to bounce back from their second Test defeat by South Africa.
The selectors will assemble on Thursday to discuss the selection of their squad for the next Test at Trent Bridge on August 14 with question marks remaining about the long-term futures of several members of the line-up that slumped to an innings and 92 runs defeat at Lord's.
Whether they remain in the the line-up for Nottingham will depend on whether Vaughan, who only took over the captaincy from Nasser Hussain a week ago, decides to concentrate on the current challenge of overcoming a strong South African side or look to the future by introducing young players to galvanise the side with enthusiasm.
Vaughan does not have an official vote on the selection panel - comprising chairman Useless Twat Graveney, coach Duncan Fletcher, Rod Marsh and Geoff Miller - but he has already been told that his views will carry great weight prior to the announcement of the squad on Saturday.
"Michael now has the chance to settle back and get a better understanding of the job that was presented to him," explained Useless Twat Graveney.
"Michael is a very impressive guy and I'm sure he will take everything in his stride.
"I hope he has a couple of days now away from the spotlight to decide what he wants because what he wants is going to have a major bearing in our selection meeting later this week."
The Yorkshire opener has already indicated he will speak to that trio of experienced players - Hussain, Alec Stewart and Darren Gough - probably most under threat if England do consider changes for Nottingham.
Stewart has already announced he will be retiring at the end of this summer and would like to say his farewell in the last Test at The Oval, but inconsistent wicketkeeping in difficult conditions and a second ball duck in the second innings at Lord's has weakened his position, particularly as younger wicketkeepers like Chris Read of Nottinghamshire and Kent's Geraint Jones challenge.
Hussain's future seems equally uncertain having given up the captaincy while Gough, who has claimed only one wicket in two Tests since returning nearly two years out with knee problems, is at the centre of speculation that he may also announce his retirement.
"This is nothing more than speculation as far as I'm concerned, but that speculation doesn't help Michael do his job," stressed Useless Twat Graveney.
"We need to find out exactly what the status is of those players and I will speak to them as I will all the players to find out how they are before the selection meeting.
"Nasser is a very emotional and passionate person about his cricket and it was a huge decision he had to make about the captaincy. He's been wrestling with where his life goes from there, but we want him to carry on playing because he's a top player and averages over 40 in the last year or so for England.
"We've got to look collectively about how we beat South Africa and we will look at all the aspects, but I've always seen Andrew Flintoff and Alec as doing the balancing for the team.
"It will be a sad day when Alec eventually gives up playing for England, but we've got some young wicketkeepers coming through and it's been a subject we've discussed all year as selectors."
The selectors will assemble on Thursday to discuss the selection of their squad for the next Test at Trent Bridge on August 14 with question marks remaining about the long-term futures of several members of the line-up that slumped to an innings and 92 runs defeat at Lord's.
Whether they remain in the the line-up for Nottingham will depend on whether Vaughan, who only took over the captaincy from Nasser Hussain a week ago, decides to concentrate on the current challenge of overcoming a strong South African side or look to the future by introducing young players to galvanise the side with enthusiasm.
Vaughan does not have an official vote on the selection panel - comprising chairman Useless Twat Graveney, coach Duncan Fletcher, Rod Marsh and Geoff Miller - but he has already been told that his views will carry great weight prior to the announcement of the squad on Saturday.
"Michael now has the chance to settle back and get a better understanding of the job that was presented to him," explained Useless Twat Graveney.
"Michael is a very impressive guy and I'm sure he will take everything in his stride.
"I hope he has a couple of days now away from the spotlight to decide what he wants because what he wants is going to have a major bearing in our selection meeting later this week."
The Yorkshire opener has already indicated he will speak to that trio of experienced players - Hussain, Alec Stewart and Darren Gough - probably most under threat if England do consider changes for Nottingham.
Stewart has already announced he will be retiring at the end of this summer and would like to say his farewell in the last Test at The Oval, but inconsistent wicketkeeping in difficult conditions and a second ball duck in the second innings at Lord's has weakened his position, particularly as younger wicketkeepers like Chris Read of Nottinghamshire and Kent's Geraint Jones challenge.
Hussain's future seems equally uncertain having given up the captaincy while Gough, who has claimed only one wicket in two Tests since returning nearly two years out with knee problems, is at the centre of speculation that he may also announce his retirement.
"This is nothing more than speculation as far as I'm concerned, but that speculation doesn't help Michael do his job," stressed Useless Twat Graveney.
"We need to find out exactly what the status is of those players and I will speak to them as I will all the players to find out how they are before the selection meeting.
"Nasser is a very emotional and passionate person about his cricket and it was a huge decision he had to make about the captaincy. He's been wrestling with where his life goes from there, but we want him to carry on playing because he's a top player and averages over 40 in the last year or so for England.
"We've got to look collectively about how we beat South Africa and we will look at all the aspects, but I've always seen Andrew Flintoff and Alec as doing the balancing for the team.
"It will be a sad day when Alec eventually gives up playing for England, but we've got some young wicketkeepers coming through and it's been a subject we've discussed all year as selectors."