January 01, 2009

AUSTRALIA'S selectors have come under fire, with calls for heads to roll over the Andrew Symonds injury fiasco.

Former Test players Rodney Hogg, Darren Lehmann and John Benaud slammed the panel's handling of selections this summer.

"They are all over the place," Hogg said.

"Heads should roll (in the selection panel). They must have known Symonds was not fit in Melbourne and when he did not come on to bowl until after the 100-over mark (chairman of selectors) Andrew Hilditch must have felt like resigning.

"If Hilditch wasn't totally embarrassed by Symonds's selection in that Test match, then it's a joke. This side has not got Warne and McGrath. They need a fifth bowler."

Lehmann, president of the Australian Cricketers' Association, said Australia must ensure there is no repetition of the Symonds debacle where the all-rounder was chosen with a knee injury that will require surgery.

"That is a real issue the selectors have to get right," he said. "It just proves you have to pick people who are 100 percent fit for every Test match.

"The time has come for reality checks on which way we are going in Australian cricket regarding the selection process."

Lehmann had no issue with the retention of Matthew Hayden in the third Test side but said the 37-year-old might be best to retire from one-day cricket if he was to fulfil his goal of making the Ashes tour.

"If they want to get Matthew through to the Ashes, why don't they play him in Sheffield Shield games for the rest of the year instead of the one-dayers?" Lehmann said.

Lehmann and former Test selector Benaud, who said he would not have chosen Hayden for the Sydney Test, said Australia had made a blunder by playing defensive off-spinner Nathan Hauritz rather than the more attacking Jason Krejza.

"I can't believe they picked Hauritz in Melbourne. Why would you pick a defensive bowler in a Test you have to win? Krejza is a much better bowler, an attacking bowler. He is a ready-made international spin bowler," Benaud said.