Hilditch reappointed for two years

Cricket Australia has resisted the urge to overhaul its selection panel following the Ashes loss, reappointing Andrew Hilditch as chairman for two more years. Hilditch has been confirmed as the chairman of selectors until at least the end of the 2011 World Cup, which will take his term in charge of the panel to five years in total.

There were reports following the Ashes defeat that Cricket Australia wanted to appoint at least one of the four selectors - Hilditch, David Boon, Merv Hughes and Jamie Cox - to a full-time role. However, Hilditch's law practice in Adelaide was expected to rule him out of any full-time position with Cricket Australia.

But Cricket Australia's chief executive officer James Sutherland told Cricinfo earlier this week that there would be no hasty decisions on the selection panel. Following Hilditch's reappointment on Friday, Sutherland said he was the right man to take the panel forward.

"Australia is a team in rebuilding phase but this country has many talented young cricketers, as illustrated by Australia's recent victory in the ICC Champions Trophy," Sutherland said. "The National Selection Panel will continue to be led by Andrew Hilditch."

Cricket Australia also announced a reshuffle in the national women's team selection panel. Christina Matthews has been named as the chairperson of the Women's National Selection Panel, while Julie Hayes has been added to the group and Julie Savage will continue as a selector.