If Hilfy doesn't play, I say goodbye Andrew Hilditch

For the Australian selectors, Miss Field shows how it's done.

Unfortunately they did not heed her advice. The selectors only made the changes that were forced by injury. Lee and Symonds out, Watson still out. Matthew Hayden - he of the giant bat, imposing physique and horrible, horrible form - is still in.

That selection shows two things: stubbornness by the selectors, and a complete lack of faith in the emerging generation of openers. If you're Rogers or Klinger or even Hughes, you would look at Hayden's performances this summer and think "you know, I reckon I might have made it out of single figures more than once".

Robert Craddock and Ben Dorries have both written articles attacking the Australian selectors, in particular Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors. Hilditch made the decision to give Cameron White a full series in India. Apparently he was labouring under the misconception that White was a spinner of some kind. Hilditch also made the call to keep a clearly injured Watson and a "day-by-day proposition" Symonds in the squad.

The other three selectors, Merv Hughes, David Boon and Jamie Cox, need to step up a bit I think. I have a lot of respect for Boonie and Cox, I've interviewed them each several times, and I know at least one of them was arguing hard for Ben Hilfenhaus to get a Test in either Perth or Melbourne.

Here's what Trevor Hohns, the old chairman of selectors would have done:

Hilditch said last night it was not time for "chopping and changing" the side.

Well if now isn't the time, after one of the most demoralising performances seen by an Australian side, then when is the right time?

Former chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, an uncompromising man who made the tough decisions, would have had none of it.

Hohns was the man who famously denied Ian Healy a farewell Gabba Test, telling the wicketkeeping great he had played three more Tests than he deserved.

Test cricket is a very unforgiving game. If your head isn't right, if you're out of form, or just feeling a bit unlucky, you will be exposed.

This is the squad:
Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Andrew McDonald, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus.

They better bloody well give Hilfy a bowl. In Shield games this season, Bollinger has taken 14 wickets at 22.14, McDonald has taken 15 wickets at 23.93, and Siddle has taken 2 wickets at 76.

Hilfy? A paltry 24 wickets at 18.66 with his right-arm swing bowling. That's right, we do have a bowler who consistently swings the ball. We've just been ignoring him for hard-working toilers, apparently forgetting Hilfy sent down the most overs the competition a season or so ago.

Come on Hilditch, Hughes, Boonie and Cox. Get it right this time!!