Now That's A Good Selection

The Cat in the Hat is back ... the one in the Greg Chappell hat, that is.

Cricket Australia announced yesterday that Greg Chappell will be joining the national selection panel this month and the timing could not have been better. With the Australian Test side top heavy in aging stars, Chappell's knowledge and recognition of young talent will be a great addition to the panel.

As he is added, someone must leave. With Chairman Hilditch contracted until after the World Cup, it won't be him although one wonders if Chappell G was applying political speak when interviewed yesterday.

"He has my utmost support. We have worked together before and I can see no issues between us."

If that was said in Canberra, Hilditch would be putting on the suit with the kevla back.

If we imagine Xavier Hilditch - the Happy Hooker - to be safe, then one of David Boon, Jamie Cox or Merv Hughes will be for the axe. At what point in cricket did we give fast bowlers leadership positions? Having heard Merv swear his way through a recent men's health event in Tamworth and in the process express views about Australia's cricket future, I'd be willing to point the fickle finger of fate at the the big man and send him off to the sheds.

Chappell has good cred from his previous stint as an Australian selector, being the man who fast tracked Ian Healy into the side, among other inspired choices and with the basis of his role being as in talent recognition and development, we can expect changes. He has been one of the heavy hitting intellects of Australian cricket and it has only been his coaching roles which have had mixed results. It's not that he failed, more that he failed to find a way to communicate across a cultural divide and insisted on his way being the right way. Back in Australia, we know his way is the right way, so if players have to get used to seaweed and veggie burgers, so be it.

The man had no peer with bat in hand and whilst not as aggressive as his brother as captain, he was far more strategic and never shy of taking the tough moments by the throat and ruthlessly pursuing an end ... ask Brian McKecknie.

Australian cricket has some tough decisions to make in the next eighteen months and with Chappell in place to make them, the sporting public will have more confidence in the results now that we have an "A" player back on the selection panel, rather than, Boon aside, the string of Second XI players who have been screwing with selections for the past four years.

Click the following to see what the Cat in the Hat has been doing before taking up this new role as selector.

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