ADELAIDE, (Reuters) – Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said today he would not jump unless pushed despite stinging criticism following the Ashes drubbing by England.
Hilditch, a selector since 1996, heads the four-member Australian selection panel which also includes Greg Chappell, David Boon and Jamie Cox.
“I have still got the same passion for everything I can give to Australian cricket, I only do it for one reason and that is I love Australian cricket,” he told reporters.
The former Australian test opener wanted his contract to be extended when it expired in April after the World Cup.
“I’m trying to do the best job I possibly can, as is the whole selection panel. So it will be for someone else to tell me when I’m not required,” Hilditch said.
The 54-year-old has faced the ire of the nation’s cricketing fraternity after refusing to take the blame for Australia’s poor series and insisted the panel had done “a very good job.”
“To the extent that someone thinks that we’re not disappointed with the result, I’m disappointed those comments were taken that way,” Hilditch said.
“The reality is nobody could be more disappointed than the national selection panel.
“We picked what we thought was a squad capable of winning the Ashes and it wasn’t capable of winning the Ashes, so that is disappointing.”
Hilditch denied he had failed to inform wicketkeeper Brad Haddin the reason for his omission from the Twenty20 matches against England this week.
“I spoke to Brad before he was omitted from the Twenty20 side and I gave him the reasons,” Hilditch said. Haddin had described the move to replace him with Tim Paine as “odd”.
