Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland to step down but insists ball tampering scandal had nothing to do with decision

The 52-year-old, who took up the role in 2001, resigns amid cultural reviews into the cricket board and the national team

Sutherland has announced he will step down from his role (Getty)

Long-serving Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland will step down as chief executive next year but denied the now infamous ball-tampering scandal had played any part in the decision.

The 52-year-old, who took up the role in 2001, resigns amid cultural reviews into the cricket board and the national team in the wake of the Cape Town scandal which shocked the sports-mad nation and caused the loss of a key sponsor.

Sutherland's stewardship had also come under the microscope as Australia look to rebuild under a new captain and coach, but the former Victoria state cricketer said he had been thinking about moving on for a while.

"It certainly was a big issue at the time," Sutherland said of the scandal at a news conference. "It hasn't had a bearing on my decision, I guess.

"(CA chairman) David (Peever) and I have actually been talking about this for two years ... It just feels like a good time for me to hand over the reins in an orderly fashion to my successor."

Speaking at Melbourne's Junction Oval, where he made his first class debut for Victoria in 1991, Sutherland said he would remain in place during a 12-month handover as CA looks for his successor.

The announcement comes soon after the resignation of coach Darren Lehmann and CA integrity chief Iain Roy, who oversaw the board's investigation into the ball-tampering affair.