Border steps down

Allan Border

Former Test skipper Allan Border has resigned as an Australia selector less than five months after rejoining the National Selection Panel.

Border revealed he stood down because he could not combine the role with his business commitments.

“I loved working as a selector and this influenced me to accept the invitation to rejoin this year,” Border said in a statement.

“But my various commitments are far heavier than I had expected back in mid-year and I don’t think it is appropriate to do what is a really important job if I am not able to give it the full attention it deserves.”

Cricket Australia chairman Creagh O’Connor said the board would canvas opinions from NSP chairman Andrew Hilditch and Cricket Australia management on Border’s replacement before its next meeting at the end of this week.

Border, who played 156 Tests and 273 one-day internationals in an illustrious career, was a selector between 1998 and 2005 before rejoining the panel in June this year to replace outgoing chairman Trevor Hohns.

Border’s resignation leaves Australia with three selectors - Hilditch, David Boon and Merv Hughes.