Tim Lamb, the England and Wales Cricket Board's chief executive, said the new job will be advertised shortly.

The board have also formally appointed former Middlesex batsman John Carr, currently cricket secretary, to the new post of director of cricket operations.

Lamb said the director willoversee development, management and administration.

Following ECB administration secretary Tony Brown's decision to take early retirement, his responsibilities for first-class umpires and all matters relating to registration and discipline will now pass to Carr.