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“You can’t win, unless you win.” That’s how Australian cricket’s chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch sums up his job.
Hilditch and fellow selectors Greg Chappell, Jamie Cox and David Boon made widespread changes to Australia’s squad for the third Test against England.
Three ins, four outs.
“If you don’t make changes, you’re too conservative,” Hilditch said on Friday.
“If you do make changes, you’re chopping and changing.
“You can’t win, unless you win.”
Hilditch denied selectors were feeling pressured by criticism.
“We are just doing our job, we’re trying to pick the best possible side for Australia,” he said.
“I’m finding it very exciting, very challenging and hoping to get it right.”
Hilditch is full of hope.
He hopes spinner Michael Beer is up to it, after just five first-class games.
“The reality is, he’s got no international experience and it’s a big call from us to throw him into this position,” Hilditch said.
He hopes Mitchell Johnson’s remedial work turns out okay.
“We are really keen on him coming back as soon as possible … whether he’s ready for Perth, I don’t know quite yet,” he said.
“It’s probably not ideal, but it’s not an ideal world.”
Hilditch hopes people will stop asking about the post-Ashes captaincy future of Ricky Ponting.
“I think he’s the man who is going to lead us through the Ashes, and hopefully successfully,” he said.
“We have got a big job ahead of us but he’s the right man.”
Above all, Hilditch hopes scuttlebutt about a Shane Warne comeback will cease.
“Shane retired, I think, four years ago from Test cricket for I’m sure very valid reasons and I don’t see that is something that he’d be considering himself,” he said.
“As far as we are concerned, we have got to look forward to the future.”
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