Hilditch to discuss plans

Nathan Bracken is pleased that grievances will be aired

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Australia’s selectors will take the unprecedented step of meeting with players to explain the reasons behind some of the chopping and changing which appears to have hindered the team’s progress.

All Cricket Australia contracted players have been sent emails asking them to plan a meeting where they will be able to discuss their playing futures with chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.

Hilditch wants these meetings to take place as soon as possible but a busy international and domestic schedule may create difficulties.

Selectors have this summer come under tremendous scrutiny from the media, commentators and past and present players, for failing to adequately explain a raft of controversial selections.

Among the choices queried was the decision to play an injured Andrew Symonds in the Melbourne Test, standing by out-of-form opener Matthew Hayden throughout the Test season and the chopping and changing of spinners.

New South Wales spinner Beau Casson, out-of-favour Victoria batsman Brad Hodge and Western Australia coach Tom Moody have all recently expressed their dissatisfaction this summer with choices made by national selectors.

Nathan Bracken welcomed the move, saying it would help clear the air for players aggrieved at being overlooked.

"I think it's just put it in a formal situation. When you look at it we are a professional outfit but we are a business as well, and everybody goes through reviews," he said.

"Obviously you're going to be getting the feedback or information that you're after and asking the right questions.

"So you put forward your case and I've found that in every meeting that I've had with the selection panel they've been very honest and very straightforward."

But ultimately, Bracken said, it should be up to the players to approach selectors about selection issues - not the other way around.

"If a player wants some feedback, we've got their phone number (to) give them a ring," he said.

"Find out what's going on, speak to them, ask the questions you want to ask and they'll be fair and honest with you and put forward the best answers they can.

"A lot of the time the ball's in our court to make that decision."