Hilditch, Chappell sacked after Aussie cricket review

Melbourne: Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke on Friday confirmed that Andrew Hilditch's controversial tenure as the chairman of selectors is over and that Tim Nielsen must reapply for the Australian coaching role.

Revealing details of the long-awaited Argus Review into Australian cricket, Clarke told a press conference here that wide-ranging structural changes will be implemented at Cricket Australia.

According to the Daily Telegraph, among the changes expected are the introduction of a five-man selection panel - including a fulltime chairman, two independents, the captain and coach - as well as a newly created position of general manager of team performance, who will be responsible for coaching, selection and the Centre of Excellence.

There will also be a new head coaching role with a broader scope than the current Australian coaching job held by Nielsen. The head coach will also be a selector.

Don Argus, the former chairman of BHP Billiton and Brambles, conducted the review, which has been touted as the most comprehensive in Australian cricket history. Argus interviewed more than 60 people involved in Australian cricket before presenting his findings to the CA board yesterday.

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"A system that once worked is now in need of change.We're not looking for scapegoats," the paper quoted Clarke, as saying.

Hilditch and Chappell will no longer be selectors under the new structure, although Chappell will for now continue in his role of national talent manager.

Australian captain Michael Clarke and Nielsen will join the selection panel for the tour of Sri Lanka, although Nielsen will be under intense pressure to retain his position as head coach in the long-term.

Hilditch, who runs an Adelaide legal practice, will be unable to fill the role of chairman of selectors, which will now be a fulltime position, while there is no accommodation for Chappell's current role as fulltime selector and national talent manager.

"We need to align the coaching so there is one philosophy that the head coach is able to articulate," said Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.

"Tim can apply for the job and he may well get the job, but it's a different role under the restructure," Sutherland added.

"Quite clearly the report talks about new structures that are in place. We need to deliver a very strong performance and accountability culture within the team. There's no reason why that can't be Tim Nielsen," he added.

Both Clarke and Sutherland conceded Cricket Australia had made mistakes in the years that directly proceeded the national team's era of dominance.

"It's a harsh review," Sutherland said. "It's something we need to face up to and will face up to.

"None of us like or enjoy not being No. 1. We need clear structures and accountabilities to get us back on top as soon as possible," he said.