Australian Players Want State Form-based Selection Back: ACA Chief Greg Dyer

Cricketnext Staff | Updated: January 7, 2019, 5:50 PM IST

Members of the Australian cricket team team believe that the communication between them and the selection committee is not clear, according to Australian Cricketers’ Association head Greg Dyer. Dyer also added that a majority of the Australian cricketers would prefer selection be based around their form for their state teams.

Speaking to SEN, Dyer said the ACA was made aware of some disquiet between the two parties - players and selectors - as neither have a clear idea of the information being passed on.

“I think from time to time we hear of disquiet around the logic behind particular selections,” Dyer said.

“You hear a lot of disquiet around ‘I just don’t understand what it is that I did or what I didn’t do or what is the basis for what’s happening’.

Dyer stopped short of spelling out that communication wasn’t good enough.

“But I can’t get specific about that, but the implication is that it is not specific as it needs to be.”

The ACA chief threw light on how players were disappointed about the selection policy wherein form in state based cricket is no more priority.

“I think it’s true to say that I think we’ve fallen away from state based cricket as being the prominent method with how people are selected,” he said.

“I think the players unanimously say I want to be selected based on my state form, based on my domestic cricket form rather than an Australia A or some other pathway if you like.

“They want to go back to that really clear, fair system which said there’s runs on the board, wickets and so forth are the primary criteria.”

Dyer also said that the ACA would play a part in the reintegration of Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steve Smith, who are nearing the completion of their suspensions, into the squad.

“The ACA certainly does play a role (in bringing everyone back together). We will be looking to make sure that communication is open and transparent and the discussions bring 11 players back into the change rooms together to build a competitive unit,” Dyer said.

“All three players have done exactly what has been required of them through the process of the time of the sanctions and David in particular I think needs to be acknowledged of having done everything that has been asked of him and behaved in a pretty exemplary way. He’s shown great maturity, he’s to be applauded for that.

“All three players need to be treated fairly. They’ve done their time and as soon as that time is up I think they need to be made available and whatever by the mechanism of that occurs they need to be brought back into the fold.”