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AAP
AAP
Scott Bailey

Cricket Australia outline what's next in search for CEO

Nick Hockley's final day as Cricket Australia CEO is yet to be locked in. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird is in no rush to appoint Nick Hockley's successor, with the outgoing CEO's March exit still a flexible date.

Hockley addressed his last AGM as the sport's boss on Thursday, as Cricket Australia delivered a better-than-expected $31.9 million loss for the financial year.

Officials have launched a global search for Hockley's replacement, after the chief executive announced his impending exit last August.

Players' union boss and former NRL CEO Todd Greenberg remains the front-runner for the role, while AAP is aware of interest from other CA executives.

Hockley had flagged a March exit when he announced his decision to move on, but remains open to staying beyond that if a replacement is not readily available.

"The process is under way," Baird said.

"There is not surprisingly a huge amount of interest in the role. We will run through that in a considered way as a board, there is no rush.

"We want to make sure we get the right person for the next phase. Nick remains here and has a huge amount to do.

"We expect to be able to meet the timeline, but we're very relaxed."

CA's annual loss came in what was always expected to be a down year for the organisation, with neither England or India touring last summer.

The deficit was also greater than in the 2022-23 season, given that year's finances were propped up by hosting the men's Twenty20 World Cup.

The annual result left the sport's cash reserves at $25.7 million amid estimations of the COVID pandemic leaving the sport with a $100 million hit.

Virat Kohli of India
The return of Virat Kohli's side means this financial year will be far more lucrative for CA. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

"The expectation is at the end of these two years we will have reserves in excess of $70 million," Baird said.

"It's obviously a huge uplift relative to where we have been ... we're very bullish about the next two (summers) and it's reflected in the forecast."

Hockley insisted moves had been made to make CA's budget more resilient against summers without India or England, through new content, investments, cost-efficiency moves and greater digital assets.

Baird also indicated Australia were pushing ahead with plans for a Test fund with the ICC, in a bid to support nations outside of the big three and safeguard the red-ball game.

Meanwhile, CA directors Lachlan Henderson, Greg Rowell and Clea Smith were all re-elected at Thursday's meeting.

Fellow director Paul Green announced he would soon step down.

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