Bichel accuses selectors of double standards

Andy Bichel has hit out at the selectors after being dropped from Australia's 13-man squad for the VB Series finals. Bichel, who has had a poor tournament, taking just three wickets at over 65, complained that he was a victim of double standards in the Australian selection policy.

"Maybe there are double standards and that's the disappointing factor, knowing that I have so many supporters out there who are right behind me," Bichel told reporters in Brisbane. "But that's the way it is and you have to take it on the chin." Bichel has been replaced by Michael Kasprowicz for the best-of-three finals.

In what appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to the media's continuing obsession with Brett Lee, Bichel said: "I probably don't play the media bandwagon too much, I just get on and play my cricket. I think you get that in every sporting team around the world, there're different guys who get the limelight." Lee went for 83 runs in his ten overs against India at Brisbane but was persisted with, and repaid the selectors' faith with an awesome spell of 3 for 22 against the same opponents at Perth. Another player who has been persisted with despite struggling for form is Damien Martyn, who has managed just 122 runs at an average of 17.42 in the VB Series.

Bichel is the second Australian fast bowler to express his disenchantment with the Australian selectors this season - Brad Williams had earlier vented his ire after being dropped for the Brisbane Test against India. Unlike Williams, who was censured for his comments, Bichel escaped disciplinary action after Cricket Australia decided that his remarks were inoffensive.