From correspondents in Victoria, Australia, 05:31 PM IST

Jamie Cox, who played first-class cricket for 19 years, was Thursday appointed a national selector replacing Allan Border, who had recently resigned, the Australian cricket board announced.

Cox was recently appointed to the Tasmanian Cricket Association's (TCA) selection panel, but he has now resigned that post. He also served as a selector for the TCA when he captained the state for three seasons.

'It is an exciting time in Australian cricket and I'm really looking forward to the role,' said Cox, who was a selector for his English county side Somerset for four years.

'I'm sure there will be some challenging times ahead and some tough decisions to be made. However, that comes with the role and is something that any selector will experience.'

Cox is in the process of relocating to New South Wales to undertake a position with the Australian Sports Commission running National Career Coaching Programmes, following his previous shared role with The Tasmanian Institute of Sport and Tasmanian Cricket Association.

'We have a fantastic core of experienced players along with a talented and ambitious group of young players who are emerging into international cricket,' he said about the Australian team that will now play England in the Ashes series at home starting in Perth Nov 23.

'There will certainly be some transition in the side over the next few years so it is an exciting time to be involved with the group.'

Cox is one of Australian domestic cricket's most decorated players, having played the most Pura Cup-Sheffield Shield games in the competition's history (161). He is the second-highest run-scorer in Pura Cup-Sheffield Shield history with 10,821 runs, second only to South Australian captain Darren Lehmann.

He retired from first class cricket in 2005-06 season, with his career spanning 264 first-class matches over 19 years for Tasmania and Somerset. He made his debut in 1987-88.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)