IAN Hawtin has taken over as Oxfordshire’s new chairman of selectors.

The former county captain will head a restructured three-man panel, along with new captain Jonny Cater and head coach Rupert Evans.

He replaces Ian Crosby, who has stepped down from the selection committee because of increased work commitments in London.

Previous captain Luke Ryan told the Oxford Mail in November he would be unavailable for three-day matches, while there are question marks over whether he can play one-day games.

And with talismanic all-rounder Chad Keegan’s retirement at the end of last season, it looks like being a year of transition for the county.

But Hawtin is fully aware of the tough job that lies in wait.

“Following the retirement of Chad and the uncertainty about Luke’s availability, the Minor Counties side will be going through a challenging period,” he said.

“I hope that in my role I can help with the communication with players and their clubs, which hopefully will make selection slightly more transparent.

“I don’t think any of us is under any illusions as to the challenges that are ahead.

“We have to focus on a three-to-five-year plan for the Minor Counties side and therefore the role of the second team has to play a major role in assessing and bringing through players to the first team.

“For all the talented players in Oxfordshire, I believe that everyone should see the next few years as a huge opportunity for them to get into the Minor Counties side.

“The way to do that is through producing good, consistent performances for their clubs and the county second team by weight of runs and wickets.

“Together, with our newly appointed team of scouts, I am confident that performances will not go unnoticed or unrewarded by the selectors.

“I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead and working with the new captain and the coaching team in the years ahead.”

Evans is keen to work closely with Hawtin again.

“I have played with Ian at both club and county level in the past,” he said.

“I think Ian Crosby did a very good job in a short space of time because of his knowledge of Home Counties cricket and also the Minor Counties scene.

“Ian (Hawtin) will also be able to bring plenty of experience to the job and provide plenty of support and help for the captain as well as the junior players who are trying to break into the full county side.”