David Graveney has told the BBC he will apply for the newly-created role of England national selector.
Graveney has been chairman of selectors since 1997
He has arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of the first Test in Kandy on Saturday, and will help Michael Vaughan and Peter Moores select the starting side.
Graveney, whose chairman of selectors role is part-time, was last week told he must re-apply for the new post.
The person awarded the new position will tour with the team and have an equal voice to the captain and coach.
New England team managing director Hugh Morris told BBC Sport: "Previously, the chairman was a part-time role but we are moving to a full-time role.
"But David is up to speed and understands this and is very welcome to throw his hat in the ring for the job."
The new post was recommended earlier this year by the Schofield Review of English cricket, and Graveney has made it clear he wants to stay part of the England set-up.
But Morris, who along with first-class and recreational cricket supremo Mike Gatting was handed his new managerial role as part of the major restructuring last month, insists others will be interviewed for the post.
"I have spoken to David over the last few weeks and he and [fellow selector] Geoff [Miller] are fully aware of the situation and why we are going to full recruitment," Morris said.
"We want to have the best possible system and best possible people to work in that system.
"This process is providing an opportunity for those who feel they have the skills and the experience to do it and we will be going for the best person for the job."
One of the perceived flaws on previous England tours was that the captain and coach had to agree on a starting XI for each match without any input from the selectors.
Is there really anyone out there who wants to go out for three months and sit on a tour and make probably four or five decisions?
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew
During the 2006-07 Ashes the decisions to leave out Monty Panesar for the first two Tests and name Geraint Jones as wicket-keeper long before the first Test were fiercely criticised.
It is not yet clear whether the coach will help the new national selector, or whether the third selector's role, Miller, will be retained.
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew says the new position is a waste of money.
"It sounds intriguing and hands-on but is there really anyone out there who wants to go out for three months and sit on a tour and make probably four or five decisions during the three months?" he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"It's a knee-jerk decision and while I think it is important that selectors do have some sort of handle on what happens overseas, actually (former coach) Duncan Fletcher isn't around anymore and (coach) Peter Moores is managed by Hugh Morris."