Stars list boss lays into ‘antiquated’ selectors

AUSTRALIAN selectors are “antiquated” and unnecessary in modern Test cricket, according to Melbourne Stars list boss Trent Woodhill, who is fuming at Glenn Maxwell’s Ashes non-selection.

Victorian batsman Maxwell has been in blistering form since he was left out of the Australian Test outfit that has played England in Brisbane and Adelaide, scoring a Sheffield Shield double century before his 96 this week for Victoria.

Woodhill slammed national selectors for their lack of communication when picking a team, declaring there was no justification for Maxwell being left out of the Ashes team. “I’ve been pretty verbal in that he should have been there in that first Test,” Woodhill said.

“We just needed to hear from [chairman of selectors] Trevor Hohns why he was dropped in the first place.

“It’s just an old-fashioned role that’s so antiquated, you don’t need it any more.

“Darren Lehmann, you’re the head coach, the buck stops with you. You get up there and you say who’s in the team and who’s not in the team, and if you make the changes we want to hear from you.

“We are interested in what Darren Lehmann has to say about cricket, but also about selection.

“I’m not interested in what an antiquated selection panel has to say, but more importantly, I am interested when they don’t say something, because there is no justification for Glenn not being selected.”

Peter Handscomb, who also plays for the Stars in the Big Bash League, has been criticised for his technique as he hunts form.

Woodhill said such commentary was “crazy talk” and that Handscomb — like many others have before him — must be afforded time.

“He’s not in form. There is a difference between not having the game to succeed and not being in form,” he said.

“Peter’s not in form at the moment, but he needs to be given that opportunity to push through that.

“The criticism is unfair just because people aren’t liking what they see.”