Chief Aussie cricket selector Hilditch goes in review

Chief selector Andrew Hilditch and head coach Tim Nielsen were high-profile casualties Friday of a sweeping review into Australian cricket sparked by the team's Ashes humiliation this year. Both men lost their jobs, along with fellow selector Greg Chappell, following the seven-month review headed by Don Argus, the former chief of mining giant BHP Billiton. Its members also included ex-captains Steve Waugh, Allan Border and Mark Taylor, and was ordered by Cricket Australia after the Test team's shattering 3-1 Ashes series defeat to England. "It is, to the best of my knowledge, the most exhaustive, comprehensive examination of Australian cricket ever undertaken," CA chairman Jack Clarke said. "It is clear with the wisdom of hindsight that there are some issues that could have been addressed earlier," he told reporters. "In many ways we were victims of our own success. It is quite clear the world has moved on and a system that once worked is now in need of change." He stressed the review was not about looking for scapegoats, but rather getting Australia back to the top of world cricket, which they dominated between 1987 and 2007. "This successful period is now history and the Australian team's recent lack of success has been a concern for players, administrators and the cricket-loving public," Clarke said. "This review is about looking to the future and what we need to do to improve." Based on the findings, a new chairman of selectors will be appointed on a full-time basis -- Hilditch was part-time -- and the selection panel will be expanded from three members to five, including the coach and captain. The report ruled Chappell out of continuing as a selector but he remains in his position as national talent manager. "I fully support the recommendation of the review panel to appoint a full-time chairman of the National Selection Panel and the appointment of the captain and coach as members of the panel," Hilditch said in a statement. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cricket Australia for the great privilege they bestowed on me when appointing me as a selector some 15 years ago and then five years ago as chairman of the National Selection Panel. "They were always going to be difficult years as chairman with the exodus of so many great players but I have given it my all and always acted to the best of my ability to achieve the best outcome for Australian cricket." The head coaching role, held by Nielsen, has also been expanded and refined. Clarke said Nielsen, who was given a new three-year contract on the eve of the Ashes, would be considered as a candidate for the new head coaching job. Nielsen though is under pressure, having presided over two Ashes defeats, two Test series defeats in India and Australia's first series defeat against South Africa at home. "He may well get the job, but it's a different role and in a restructure, you just don't give someone the job in a new role," Clarke said. Speaking from Sri Lanka, Nielsen said: "I had a discussion with James (CA chief executive Sutherland) last night regarding the position we were in and the review has been done with the sole purpose of getting Australian cricket back to where we want it to be. "I am supportive of what they are doing and I just need time now to ensure that we go through this process and get all the information before we make too much comment." Australia have slumped to fifth in the ICC Test rankings with Ricky Ponting standing down as Test skipper last March to be replaced by his deputy Michael Clarke. Clarke is currently leading the Australian team in Sri Lanka. The report also made several long-term recommendations, covering areas such as player contracts and the domestic competitions, which the CA board is yet to consider.