SYDNEY – Australia’s under-pressure chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch will be allowed to stay in his job while an extensive review of the national team’s performance is completed. Hilditch, a selector since 1996, came in for heavy criticism after Australia’s dismal 3-1 Ashes series loss to England. But Cricket Australia said the review was not a “witch-hunt” and indicated that Hilditch will stay in the position beyond April, when his contract is due to expire, as it awaits the review findings.
“Because we have to get on with business, the board will keep the current selectors, they will be doing their normal work,” Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke told reporters Thursday. “We’ve got to do contracts, we’ve got a Bangladesh series, we’ve got Australia A going to Zimbabwe, we have a Test series in Sri Lanka, all of those will certainly need to be picked before the review comes back. “It’s just not going to be a witch-hunt, we’re looking forward for sustained future success, we’re not looking with rearview mirrors.” The review panel, which has been asked to pinpoint the causes of the team’s recent decline in Tests and recommend changes, includes former skippers Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. It will be chaired by businessman Don Argus with former ICC and ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed as deputy.
Australian selector to stay, for now
