Hilditch and the Selectors, time to go?

[gbatman]

Is it time to remove Andrew Hilditch and possibly the current selection panel? They seem to be very stale and need to be refreshed with some new faces. Preferably those who have no connection with players in the current side or state sides and with people who are genuinely interested in state and international cricket with a good understanding of the game. Their fear of change and youth is losing us games.
We all saw the improvement with a few new faces in the test side in Sydney with Bollinger bowling very well but unlucky on the wicket tally and McDonald bowling very well along with Siddle hitting his straps.

Since the 2005 ashes loss we have been getting it wrong at the selection table by playing out of form players. and not selecting a side for the conditions.

2005 ashes loss
Out of form bats like Katich were played while Hussey were left out.
An in form swing bowler was not played while McGrath was injured. Gillespie played and should have been long gone.
McGill wasn't used while England struggled to play the leg spin of Warne.

2008 India Loss
Out of form batsmen were played like Hayden.
Mediocre all-rounders were given a game without earning it like White and Watson.
No spinner was selected for india until the last test where he took a lot of wickets. Shows the selectors do not understand the game and conditions. Two Spinners should have played (Krajzer and Casson).
Out of form bowlers like Brett Lee were played and an injured Clark.

2008/09 South Africa Loss
Out of form Hayden played along with an injured all rounder who is questionably good enough for test cricket (Symonds).
Defensive one day spinner Hauritz played instead of a more attacking option.
Brett Lee played, his career is over, is no longer good enough.
Deserving players such as Hughes, Bollinger/Hilfenhaus were left out.


What harm is there in dropping an out of form player and letting them gain form at state level while an in form player plays in the international side?
Players are getting games who don't deserve it and in form deserving state players are missing out. Something must be done, we can't go on accepting mediocre performances and losses. We can't let these mugs lose us another test series especially another ashes.

The current one day squad selection also baffles me with the states best performing all-rounder (McDonald) missing out along with Hodge and aspiring opener Hughes.

[Jonesy]

I don't agree with your comment about Lee, but I believe they have to go because Hodge and other aren't getting a chance when they definitely deserve a spot in the team.

[Edge]

Well atm I dont agree with your comment about lee.I remember him saying when they interviewed him after his operation that he has been playing with a sore ankle for a while now plus he was sick in india and that weakened him.

[grapedo]

It will be hard to find selectors with enough knoledge to be a slector that don't have any realtions with any Australian cricketer IMO.

[Jonesy]

Shane Warne and Darren Berry.

[gbatman]

Originally Posted by Edge

Well atm I dont agree with your comment about lee.I remember him saying when they interviewed him after his operation that he has been playing with a sore ankle for a while now plus he was sick in india and that weakened him.

Brett Lee is gone, the pace is gone for good and he has no cricket smarts and lacks skills. Siddle is twice the bowler of him.

Warne would make a great selector. What about Steve Waugh?

[grapedo]

Originally Posted by gbatman

Brett Lee is gone, the pace is gone for good and he has no cricket smarts and lacks skills. Siddle is twice the bowler of him.

Warne would make a great selector. What about Steve Waugh?

Good suggestion but they would probably think he would pick favourites or something. I diagree though I think Steve Waugh would be a terrific selector.

One person I don't want to see as a selector anytime soon is Ian Healy after his ridiculous comment about Steve Smith being given the spin bowling oppurtunity.