Steve Hitstirrer is a well-travelled, sports-hardened, armchair expert, prepared to tear the scab off a whole range of sporting wounds. Love him or hate him, you’ll find indifference is not an option.

Recent news that Australia's cricket selection team of Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Merv Hughes and Jamie Cox would be performing their roles for another two years must have been music to the ears of opposition sides around the world.

This quartet of former players of varying prowess have been universally criticised for their work over the past year. When Australia loses the Ashes, someone has to be held responsible. Too many Australians feel too much pain when the little urn ends up in the hands of the Poms.

There are far too many of us who work with or know someone who once called England home. Someone whose only remaining connection to the motherland is their ridiculous accent and the pride they feel whenever they win any form of sporting event. When England beats Australia in anything they happily drive the knife in and twist.

Do the selectors feel that pain? Do they realise how deflating it is to see Australia lose the Ashes? Do they know the countless alternative sides that we home selectors could have come up with that would have been better than theirs?

After reading Andrew Hilditch's responses in an interview after his re-appointment, I doubt very much that he does feel the same pain that we supporters endure.

When it was suggested that a pumped up and red-hot Brett Lee might force his way into the Test side for the upcoming summer, Hilditch responded with;

"The reality is at the start of the summer we will be in a similar position - Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus did a very good job for us in England. I've got every expectation they would be right in the mix for the First Test."

Andrew, Andrew, Andrew… we LOST the Ashes in England. Those same three bowlers couldn't take ten England wickets in the second innings of the First Test in Cardiff and it was all downhill from there.

Apart from the Fourth Test in Leeds, which Australia won comfortably, this bowling attack couldn't dismiss England for less than 330 runs in seven separate innings over four Tests. Yet Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, says they did a good job and will more than likely be first picked for the upcoming summer.

I'm not saying Brett Lee is the answer, I'm not even saying Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus aren't our best pace line-up, but they weren't good enough in England and someone has to stand up and say so.

The chairman of selectors needs to know that losing the Ashes is unacceptable and he and his team need to do everything in their power to make sure it never happens again.

If Australia goes with the same line-up in the Tests against Pakistan and West Indies, their performances against the weaker opposition will no doubt gloss over the reality of the Ashes tour. Before we know it England will be here to defend the Ashes and we'll be serving up more of the same.

The selection panel is way too bullet-proof. I suggest that following the loss of any major series or tournament, the panel be scrapped completely and the Australian captaincy thrown open. A new panel should be hired and they should pick their side and name their captain.

Someone has to be held responsible for all the pain we supporters have to endure.

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Should the selection panel have been re-appointed?
Is Andrew Hilditch aware of how painful an Ashes loss is to Australia supporters?
Should Brett Lee be back in the Test side for this summer?