By IANS,
Sydney : Australian selectors have called the country’s contracted players for a meeting to douse the simmering discontent among them over failing to get a national berth.
Nathan Bracken, who last week aired his grievances about being overlooked for the Test series against New Zealand and South Africa, revealed that selectors had sent an e-mail to players advising them that their concerns about the lack of open communication will be addressed at a meeting this month.
“As far as I know, yes. They said as soon as possible, understanding the elements of the international schedule we have,” Bracken was quoted as saying in The Australian.
“I actually received an e-mail from Cricket Australia (Friday) saying that the players would sit down and speak with the chairman of selectors, basically as a mid-season briefing, so obviously you are going to be getting the feedback and information you are after,” he added.
The move comes after Victoria batsman Brad Hodge, who thumped 73 off 54 balls against Western Australia in a Twenty20 match at the MCG Thursday after being left out of the national one-day and Twenty20 squads, said he had “no idea” as to why he could not earn a game for Australia.
“The idea to be selected for Australia is to score runs, is not it? And that’s what I’ve done,” Hodge said.
“I think that if you look at the criteria, there’s some guys in that side who mightn’t have done as well as I have. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is.”
NSW’s left-arm wrist-spinner Beau Casson, who took three wickets on his Test debut against the West Indies in Bridgetown last June, is another to complain about the lack of information from the national selectors, headed by Andrew Hilditch.
Bracken believes the formal briefing is a positive initiative, saying he had always benefited from addressing concerns with the selectors.
“When you look at it, we are professional athletes, but we are a business as well and everyone goes through reviews and I guess the process is that a lot of players are saying they want information, they want to talk to selectors.”