Hohns (wearing hat) had been in charge for 10 years

He was first appointed to the selection panel in 1993 and took over as chairman three years later, overseeing one of Australia's most successful periods.

"Despite its challenges, I certainly enjoyed the role and can only hope that my contribution has in some small way assisted Australian cricket," he said.

Australia won 35 Test series, drew five and lost six while he was a selector.

They also became the first team since the 1970s to win back to back World Cups, lifting the trophy in 1999 and 2003.

In recent times, however, some of Hohns's decisions have come in for criticism.

Former batsman Mark Waugh said his policy of encouraging players to think about their own games, rather than overall performance of the team was a sign that he may have outstayed his welcome.

"These decisions might spur the players to play for themselves rather than the team," Waugh said in a column in the Melbourne Age.

"Hohns has done an admirable job but it might just be time to give someone else a go."

Cricket Australia must now look for a new selector to join the remaining panel members, Andrew Hilditch, Merv Hughes and David Boon.

Chairman Creagh O'Connor, meanwhile, praised Hohns for playing a "pivotal" role in keeping Australia the world's number one Test and one-day team.

He said: "Trevor has fulfilled one of Australian cricket's most important roles in what has been one of the most successful eras in our history."

Before becoming a selector, Hohns had an 18-year playing career during which he took 288 first-class wickets.

He was a good enough leg-spin bowler to win seven Test caps, five of them in England in 1989, when he contributed 11 wickets to help Australia regain the Ashes by a 4-0 margin.