Richard Dawson has been selected as one of England’s six scouts and his boss at Gloucestershire couldn’t be happier.

Dawson will report to new national selector Ed Smith alongside Marcus Trescothick, James Taylor, Chris Read, Glen Chapple and Steve Rhodes on potential England players and Gloucestershire chief executive Will Brown said: “I’m delighted for him.

“His work ethic and his dedication to excellence is outstanding. I’ve not come across many people who are as committed as him to delivering to a high level.

“He’s played at the very top level of the game himself – he played for England – so he knows what is required mentally as well as on the talent side.

“He’s an ideal person to go round the county game and give his views.”

Dawson, 37, is in his fourth season as Gloucestershire’s head coach and his new role will see him compile reports on opposition players and forward them on to Smith. He won’t be able to report on his own players.

The new system is something that Brown welcomes.

“It’s an opportunity for other players to get noticed,” he said. “The scouting network should give all players the chance to play for England – you won’t have to play for a first division club to be selected and that has to be a good thing.

“If you look at our club – Liam Norwell last year, Chris Dent in recent seasons, Benny Howell in 20/20, even James Bracey; they could all benefit.

“In the past you’ve had to play for one of the four or five big Test match ground teams but England have been moving away from that in recent times. This is another step in the right direction.

“Anyone playing cricket now has an opportunity and Andrew Strauss deserves credit for that.”