Waugh, Gillespie keen on selector role

Test greats Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie have both expressed their interest in replacing out-going Australian national selector Rod Marsh.

Marsh's tenure as chairman of selectors will come to an end next year, opening a place on the national selection panel alongside Trevor Hohns, Mark Waugh and Bupa Support Team head coach Darren Lehmann.

Gillespie, who has returned to Australia after a successful five years coaching English county side Yorkshire.

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He will coach Adelaide Strikers in the summer's KFC Big Bash League and while he has ruled himself out of international coaching in the immediate future – declaring his family more important than his career – he is open to the idea of taking on a national selector position.

"There is a national selector's job up next year and I might put my name up for that," the former fast bowler told News Ltd.

"All I have done the last five years is select teams for Yorkshire.

"I wouldn't rule anything out. If there are opportunities I will look at it."

Gillespie led Yorkshire out of the second division after taking the reins in 2011, before claiming back-to-back Division One titles in 2014 and 2015.

Waugh, meanwhile, has seldom been involved with the Australian team since his retirement in 2004, but was a member of the Argus review panel in 2011.

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On Monday, the former Test skipper declared he’d be open to joining his twin brother as a national selector.

"I’d listen to it if the opportunity came up, but there are a lot of things you’ve got to throw into the mix and see whether it’s the right time,” Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"I think there are a lot of good cricket brains in Australia. No one has asked me, but I’d listen to it."

Waugh also reflected on the upcoming summer, saying he sees the six-Test 2016-17 season, which will see Australia take on South Africa and Pakistan, as a pivotal period for captain Steve Smith.

"You always have a honeymoon period (as captain)," Waugh said.

"The first six to 12 months, everything is fantastic. You make all the changes and they work. Then, the reality sets in and it's a bit harder than that.

"I think losing that series in Sri Lanka probably was a bit of a shock to the system. I thought our fielding was very poor, which is unlike Australia, and that sort of set the benchmark for the rest of their cricket.

"(Smith) will be having a good look at himself, his captaincy style and which players he wants in the team.

"These six Tests in Australia could well define his captaincy going forward. I think if they have a good series in Australia and the team stays stable, and they respond to his leadership, then it's great for him, but if things don't go well, it will be a challenging time for him, particularly after the last few losses.

"But, as a captain, the one thing about Steve Smith is he's amazing in the way he responds when things are down."