Australia selection chief refuses to quit

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”.