Former NRL boss Todd Greenberg could loom as Cricket Australia's next chief executive after Nick Hockley announced this summer would be his last in charge.

Hockley told employees on Tuesday he planned to exit his role next March, ending a stint that began in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis.

Greenberg is one option to replace Hockley, given he currently heads up the Australian Cricketers' Association and has long impressed figures at Cricket Australia (CA).

James Allsopp, a former chief executive at Cricket ACT, is another after he was elevated to a chief of cricket role at CA last month.

Big Bash League boss Alistair Dobson is also in the mix after reviving the competition in recent years.

"This was a difficult decision," Hockley said in a statement. 

"This is not the time for goodbyes, as I remain completely focused on the season ahead and supporting the board on succession and a smooth transition."

The Hockley era

Hockley's time in charge will be remembered as one of the most dramatic in Cricket Australia's history.

He took over when Kevin Roberts paid the price for the sport's response to the COVID-19 shut down, midway through 2020.

Hockley's early achievements were notable, after a stint in charge of the 2020 Twenty20 World Cup.

Where the worldwide pandemic broke several sporting administrators, it was largely the making of Hockley.

The Englishman was able to complete home summers against both India and England, despite border closures and concerns from the travelling teams.

Hockley's tenure also included a $1.5 billion TV rights deal signed in early 2023, just months after avoiding a lawsuit from the Seven Network over the standard of the BBL during COVID.

And a largely amicable pay deal was reached with Greenberg and the players' association last year, compared to the drama and threats of strikes in 2018.

But Hockley still had his challenges in the public domain.