Hudson to step down as CSA convener of selectors

Andrew Hudson has confirmed he will not stand for reappointment as South Africa's convener of selectors, a week before the nominations for the panel must be completed. The deadline for submitting candidates' names is next Thursday and Ashwell Prince is expected to lead the list, although one of the existing selectors may be promoted to the chief job.

As reported by ESPNcricinfo 11 days ago, Hudson is likely to be the only member of the committee who will not stay on. All the other current members - Shafiek Abrahams, Hussein Manack and Linda Zondi - are expected to be available again.

Hudson confirmed his decision to The Mercury newspaper in Durban, citing his banking career and family life as the reasons for stepping down. "Having been in the system for five years has been a real privilege and honour for me. To be No.1 in Test cricket for a large part of my tenure and No. 1 in all three formats during Gary Kirsten's time was very special. We have also seen the emergence of young, exciting players who will be around for many years to come," he said.

His decision comes amid swirling speculation that CSA's "aggressive transformation" is leading to big changes. Allan Donald also stepped down after four years in the job with Charl Langeveldt expected to take over but Hudson played down the suggestion. "I was committed to transformation at the highest levels and achieved CSA guidelines throughout my tenure," he said.

Although Hudson's tenure was marred by the Thami Tsolekile incident, which former international Makhaya Ntini believed was race driven, it also saw many players of colour debut for South Africa including their first black African batsmen Temba Bavuma. Vernon Philander was also among the players who featured prominently during Hudson's tenure, even though the bowler is at the centre of a controversy over his selection in the World Cup semi-final.

Though CSA's investigation of the selection incident concluded that Philander had been picked on merit after passing a fitness test, there has been a belief in some quarters that Domingo and de Villiers would have preferred to play Kyle Abbott, who was in better form than both Philander and Dale Steyn.

Hudson would not be drawn on the matter, even as he exits but the South African Cricketers' Association hinted that administrators may have gone over Hudson's head in that instance. "In a Proteas context the convener has to deal with a number of unique factors in the selection process. It's a tough job and the recent controversy over selection in the World Cup in New Zealand is an example of what he has had to deal with," Tony Irish said.

Hudson was appointed in May 2010 and was in the job for five years. His final task will be to choose a squad to tour Bangladesh in July, which will see the introduction of a new Test opener following Alviro Petersen's retirement last summer and could also see at least two specialist spinners, Dane Piedt and Simon Harmer, both in the mix.