Morris on top of England's brave new world

England's brave new world began yesterday. In an email sent at 2.04pm, the managerial shake-up – aimed squarely at regaining the Ashes, winning the World Cup and any other pots available one day very soon – was announced.

It may go down as a seminal moment in the history of the English game, but on the other hand, some sceptics may view it either as a shifting of the office furniture or jobs for the boys at the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The key appointment was that of Hugh Morris as the managing director of England. Morris, at present the deputy managing director of the ECB, will oversee all matters relating to the England team, and while he will not help to select it, he will have the power to sack selectors.

The former England captain, Mike Gatting, was made the managing director of cricket partnerships, and will be charged with improving relations between the ECB and the counties. Clare Connor, the former captain of the England women's team, was made the director of women's cricket.

The appointments of Morris and Gatting come in the wake of the Schofield Review, headed by the former head of the European golf tour, Ken Schofield. His panel was established during England's whitewash in the Ashes series last winter.

Morris's first task will be to implement a Schofield recommendation – the appointment of a national selector and a first-class counties director who will also be a selector.

David Graveney, the present chairman of selectors, is almost guaranteed to be the national selector.