Sydney: Australian cricket great Mark Waugh Tuesday stepped down as a national selector to take up a television commentary role as ‘broadcasters jockey for top talent’ after a new rights deal was agreed.
Waugh, whose contract expires August 31 will not renew it but will remain on the panel for the upcoming Australian tours of England and Zimbabwe.
“Working alongside my fellow selectors, the coaching staff and players over the past four years has been a privilege, and I’m proud of the achievements of the Australian teams across all formats in this time,” Waugh said.
“I firmly believe Australian cricket has a wealth of talented players in its ranks right now, and I look forward to watching the teams continue to go from strength to strength in the years to come.”
However, no replacement has been announced till late with Waugh’s departure which leaves the panel consisting Trevor Hohns, Greg Chappell and new coach Justin Langer.
Waugh, who played 128 Tests and 244 one-dayers for Australia, has been a selector since 2014, focused mostly on Twenty20s but also provided inputs on the ODI and Test teams.
The 52-year-old will be joining pay-tv company Fox Sports, which along with the free-to-air Seven Network won a bidding war last month for television and digital cricket rights in Australia in a six-year deal worth almost Aus$1.2 billion (US$918 million).
Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has also signed with Fox along with other former Oz players Allan Border, Mike Hussey, and England’s Michael Vaughan.
