Cricket Australia 'locks' Hohns

New chief selector Trevor Hohns

Sydney: Trevor Hohns was yesterday appointed Australia's interim chairman of selectors after Rod Marsh quit, with Greg Chappell drafted in to help rescue a national team in crisis.

The experienced Hohns, who previously served as chief selector during a hugely successful period for Australia, currently sits on the four-man selection panel with Mark Waugh, coach Darren Lehmann, and now Chappell.

Cricket Australia chairman David Peever said Hohns had agreed to step up to ensure continuity while the search for a full-time replacement was carried out. "It is vital that Australian cricket finds the best candidate for this role," said Peever.

"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."

Former Test fast bowler Jason Gillespie and ex-captains Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh have all been touted as possible successors to Marsh. The retired wicketkeeper resigned yesterday with immediate.

Aussies crashed to a third-straight home series defeat to South Africa on Tuesday and now face being whitewashed in a home series for the first time in their history if they lose to the Proteas in Adelaide next week.

While spinner Hohns played only seven Tests for Australia, he had a highly successful previous stint as a national selector from 1993 to 2006, including a decade as chairman. Under his guidance, Australia won a record 16 successive Test matches and claimed the 1999 and 2003 World Cups in a golden era. He rejoined the selection panel in 2014.

Peever said Chappell, who has had two previous stints as a selector, had been instrumental in restructuring Cricket Australia's youth pathway programme and had his finger on the pulse of young talent.