Cricket Australia selection needs to be overhauled amid claims they are out of touch with the game

Pressure is mounting on Cricket Australia to refresh its national selection panel after several players made outspoken remarks about a complete lack of communication and “vague” reasoning for non-selection.

Dejected Australian captain Tim Paine and players during the presentation on Day 5 of 4th Test match between Australia and India at the SCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Pressure is mounting on Cricket Australia to refresh its national selection panel amid growing concerns about their connection to the modern game and poor communication.

Several players in recent weeks have been outspoken about either a complete lack of communication or “vague” reasoning given for non-selection in the Australian Test and one-day squads.

Cricket insiders have pointed to chairman Trevor Hohns particularly and his unwillingness to properly address selections made by his panel which consists of Greg Chappell and national coach Justin Langer.

Among accusations are that 64-year-old Hohns and Test legend Chappell, who is 70, are too removed from the modern game and don’t have any sort of relationship with the players they select or those on the fringe of being picked for Australia.

Australia v India ODI series: Aaron Finch returns refreshed to lead Aussies after Sydney Test axing

Virat Kohli’s India on a mission to save Test cricket

High drama in cricket’s soap opera but ratings are just not there

Tim Paine of Australia and team mates look on after India's 2-1 series win

Calls are growing for recently retired players who have a better understanding of cricket’s modern operation, where players flip from state to T20 franchises regularly, and play the game almost year round, to have a presence on the selection panel.

Australian Test captain Tim Paine said he gives his opinion on players “when asked” by selectors, and floated his possible interest in a role when he finishes playing.

“I wouldn’t mind a crack at it in four or five years. That would be nice,” Paine said.

Former Test opener Ed Cowan floated the names of George Bailey and Cameron White, who have both played for Australia, as the type of player who could be looked at for a selection role.

Both have been national been captains, Bailey of the one-day side and White the T20 team.

They couldn’t be considered while still paying, but are the type of people who have a close-up view of the current playing ranks, and an ability to relate to players.

The panel was reduced from four to three last year

The same goes for the likes of Simon Katich, who fills coaching and assistant coaching roles at T20 leagues around the world, and Test great Ricky Ponting, who also maintains a strong connection to the current players and has been outspoken about recent performances.

Newly installed CA chief executive Kevin Roberts conceded before the final Test against India in Sydney that selection criteria needed to be examined in the wake of poor recent performances by the Australian team in all formats.

“Over the last decade or so there has been some suggestion that perhaps potential may have played more of role in selections than previously and I think that’s a good question for us to ask,” Roberts said.

Hohns, in his second stint on the selection panel, stepped in to the chairman’s role when Rod Marsh stepped down in 2016, following a horror Test loss to South Africa in Hobart. His contract runs until 2020.

Chappell, who is also CA’s national talent manager, was also drafted in after Marsh stepped down, initially on an interim basis, before his position became official in March 2017.

The panel was reduced from four to three last year when Mark Waugh stepped down, and Langer replaced former coach Darren Lehmann as a selector.

Changes to the selection panel are unlikely until a replacement is confirmed for former national high performance manager Pat Howard, who quit his post in the wake of the scathing Longstaff Review

Originally published as Cricket Australia selection needs to be overhauled amid claims they are out of touch with the game