New Zealand Cricket (NZC) yesterday announced the old three-man selection panel was being scrapped in favour of a new system which will see the creation of a national selection manager and give Black Caps coach John Wright more responsibility for the selection of his side.
Former Black Caps batting coach Mark Greatbatch, who chaired the national selection panel, will step in as acting national selection manager until a permanent appointment is made.
The new role will be fulltime and the successful candidate will be responsible for men's and women's international cricket from under-19 through to the Black Caps and White Ferns.
That person will work alongside the country's network of head coaches.
NZC director of cricket John Buchanan said the new approach would provide for greater accountability.
"It is my experience, it is important to streamline the number of people who impact on team decisions and team dynamics," Buchanan said in a statement.
"We have therefore sought to simplify the selection process to ensure greater consistency of selections, feedback and integration of playing pathways from youth, through first-class to international cricket."
By appointing Greatbatch as interim selector alongside Wright, the pair can begin work picking NZC's top 20 players, who will be offered contracts at the end of the month. Wright will have the final say should the duo not be able to reach an agreement.
The selector's job will then be advertised. Turner and Cairns, of course, will be free to apply.
Turner could not be reached for comment yesterday but he is widely regarded as one of the best cricketing brains in the business. However, he is not one to suffer fools and his outspoken style has not always been well received by some of the players and the management.
NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said while the board supported the new system, he wanted to acknowledge the contribution of the previous selectors.
"It is important to recognise the selectors over the past years have done a great job," he said.
