12 Aug 2009

Australian chairman of selectors on back foot

7:46 am on 12 August 2009

The Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch has defended the decision not to play seam bowler Stuart Clarke in the first three Ashes cricket Tests against England.

Clarke took four wickets in Australia's fourth Test win at Headingly, but Hilditch says Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddell deserve to be the first pick.