Marsh has told Cricket Australia this summer will be his last in the role, ending a three-year tenure.

“We can confirm that Rod Marsh has decided not to continue on in his role as national selector once his contract expires in June, 2017,” a spokesman for Cricket Australia told AAP.

“At this stage no decision has been made on a replacement.”

Former Test wicketkeeper-batsman Marsh took over as chief selector in May, 2014 from John Inverarity, whom he had served under since 2011.

The 68-year-old heads a four-man selection panel that includes Trevor Hohns, Mark Waugh and Australian head coach Darren Lehmann.

Australian captain Steve Smith hadn’t heard of Marsh’s plan to depart when asked following after his side’s loss to South African in Cape Town on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEDT).

But he praised the chief selector.

“Rod’s done a great job for a long period of time and if he feels it’s time to step away from the role then so be it,” Smith said.

Under Marsh, Australia achieved its stated goal of reclaiming the world No.1 Test ranking after it completed a 2-0 away series win over New Zealand in February, but that was relinquished during the July-August whitewash in Sri Lanka.

Like most selectors, Marsh has had his detractors as Australia struggled on the subcontinent, failed to make its mark in international Twenty20 cricket and lost the 2015 Ashes.

He was criticised over the non-selection of Usman Khawaja for a series of limited overs matches this year despite the batsman averaging more than 120 in all forms of cricket during the five months previous.

His treatment of wicketkeeper Brad Haddin also ruffled feathers.

Haddin was left on the sidelines for the third Ashes Test in 2015 for Peter Nevill after he missed the previous game to spend time with his sick daughter in a London hospital.

He never regained his place in the team.

AAP