Former prime minister John Howard will become president of the International Cricket Council in two year's time.

Mr Howard fended off a strong challenge from New Zealand candidate Sir John Anderson to earn the nomination.

Cricket tragic ... John Howard. Credit:AFP

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket jointly nominated Mr Howard to the ICC today after a tense few months in which both national boards fiercely defended their favoured candidate.

New Zealand Cricket pushed strongly for Sir John, its former board chairman and long-time cricket official, while Mr Howard was the preferred choice of Cricket Australia.