DHAKA: Trevor Hohns will step in as the interim Chairman of Australia’s National Selection Panel following the sudden resignation of Rod Marsh on Wednesday.

Besides, former Aussie captain Greg Chappell, currently Cricket Australia’s National Talent Manager, will also join the panel on an interim basis, with Mark Waugh and head coach Darren Lehmann, reports cricket.com.au.

The CA Board held an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday evening, following Marsh’s decision to stand down as full-time chairman ahead of his planned retirement in July.

Marsh’s early exit came following a fifth consecutive Test defeat for Australia with the hiding by an innings and 80 runs at the hands of South Africa in Hobart on Tuesday.

Before rejoining the National Selection Panel in May 2014, Hohns had previously served as an Australian selector between 1993 and 2006, including a decade as the panel’s chairman.

That stint came during a hugely successful period for Australian cricket. The Test team won a record 16 successive Test matches and claimed the 1999 and 2003 World Cups in a golden era. 

Hohns was not afraid of tough decisions in that period, ending the careers of Ian Healy and current fellow selector Mark Waugh, while he also removed the one-day captaincy from Steve Waugh. 

CA Chairman David Peever said Hohns had agreed to step up in an interim capacity for continuity while recruitment for a full-time chairman continued.

“It is vital that Australian cricket finds the best candidate for this role. Trevor is highly experienced as a selector, and will ensure we place our best players on the field this summer while we seek a permanent replacement for Rod,” Peever said.

Hohns played seven Tests for Australia in 1989, playing a key role in that year’s watershed Ashes victory with his leg-breaks. He made his Test debut at age 34, and captained Queensland for one season in a 152-game first-class career that yielded 288 wickets.

Chappell, who has had two previous stints as a selector - in 1984-88 and 2010-11 - brings a wealth of knowledge of the next generation in his role as National Talent Manager.

He will step down from that role while part of the selection panel. 

“Greg has been instrumental in restructuring our youth pathway program, driving the National Performance Squad, the introduction of a CA XI squad in the domestic one-day cup and creating clear pathways for talented youth in Australian cricket to aspire to wear the Baggy Green,” said Peever.
** Aussie chief selector Rod Marsh quits

BDST: 1502 HRS, NOV 17, 2016
SR