AUSTRALIA’s  TEST  SELECTION  PANELS

 Other Test selection panels

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1876-77

John Conway

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1878-79

John Conway

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1880 tour

H F Boyle and W L Murdoch

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1881-82

H F Boyle and W L Murdoch

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1882-83

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1884 tour

George Alexander

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1884-85

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1886 tour

The selection was made by representatives of the tour organisers, the Melbourne Cricket Club. They held a trial match between Victoria and An Australian XI at New Year, made meaningless because the NSW players would not take part.

1886-87

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1887-88

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1888 tour

C W Beal

Charles Beal was a Sydney lawyer and Secretary of the New South Wales cricket association

1890 tour

H F Boyle

Team manager H.F.Boyle was the sole selector

1891-92

J M Blackham, G Giffen, C T B Turner

George Giffen (South Australia), Jack Blackham (Victoria) and Charlie Turner (New South Wales) were appointed by their respective cricket associations to choose the side.

1893 tour

A C Bannerman, W.Bruce

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1894-95

J M Blackham, G Giffen, C T B Turner

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1896 tour

G Giffen,  P McDonnell, G H S Trott.

Garrett, Bruce and Giffen were appointed by the Australasian Cricket Council but on 29 January the former two declined their invitation.

1897-98

J Darling, F A Iredale, G H S  Trott

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1899 tour

J.Darling, S.E.Gregory, H.Trumble

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1901-02

C Hill, M A Noble, H Trumble

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1903-04

C Hill,  A E Johns, M A Noble

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1905 tour

J Darling, R W McLeod, M A Noble

Bob McLeod (Victoria) took over from Johns to select the tour party. The on-tour selection committee consisted of Darling, Noble and Hill

1907-08

J Darling,  F A Iredale,  P MacAlister

Appointed on 10 August 1907, the first season in which the Australian Board appointed selectors.  These were Joe Darling, Frank Iredale and Percy McAlister. On 3 December 1907 Joe Darling dropped out as a selector, because of his inability to witness matches leading up to the opening Test, and Clem Hill came in.

1908-09

C Hill,  F A Iredale,  P MacAlister

The panel chose a team to tour England.

1909-10

C Hill,  F A Iredale,  P MacAlister

The panel chose the team to tour New Zealand. Ernie Mayne was in reserve if Hill could not act as a selector.

1910-11

C Hill,  F A Iredale,  P MacAlister

The same panel was re-elected to pick teams against South Africa. H Trumble of Victoria was nominated but McAlister chosen.

1911-12

C Hill,  F A Iredale,  P MacAlister

Clem Hill resigned in Feb 1912 and was replaced by Ernie Mayne

1912 tour

F A Iredale,  P MacAlister,  E R Mayne

 . . . .

1914-15

E E Bean,  C Hill, L O S Poidevin  

These selectors chose a touring team for South Africa but the tour was cancelled.

Victor Trumper and Vernon Ransford were unsuccessful nominees for a place on the panel

1920-21

E E Bean, H L Collins,  D R A Gehrs

The same committee was appointed to pick the 1921 touring party

1924-25

E E Bean, H L Collins,  C Hill

Appointed at the Board meeting of 10 October 1924 when Collins was also appointed captain for the forthcoming series against England. Monty Noble was nominated but only one selector from each state could be appointed.

1925-26

H L Collins, C Hill  and J Ryder

Appointments made at Board meeting of 16 February and confirmed at annual meeting of October 1925.  V S Ransford, M A Noble and T H Howard were nominated but unsuccessful  The same committee was appointed to pick the 1926 touring party

1926-28

no selection committee needed

Collins, Hill and Ryder were all defeated for positions on their state selection committees in 1926-27

Queensland competed in the Sheffield Shield for the first time in 1926-27 season; but there were no Test matches to select.

1928-29

W Bardsley,  E E Bean,  Dr C E Dolling, J S Hutcheon

The Board meeting of 21 September 1928 appointed four selectors for the first time. Ryder and Vic Richardson were unsuccessful nominees while Johnny Taylor was asked to stand but declined.  Hutcheon was the first Queensland selectorand

 Warren Bardsley’s appointment was conditional upon him ceasing to write for the pressif a London newspaper would release him from his contract to contribute articles on the Test matches against England.

1929-30

Dr C E Dolling,  R L Jones,  J Ryder

Appointed 19 September specifically to select the 1930 touring party.  Hutcheon was an unsuccessful nominee

1930-31

W M Woodfull (Vic), E A Dwyer (NSW), Dr C E Dolling (SA), J S Hutcheon (Qld), and C J  Eady (Tas)

In September 1930 the Board considered three proposals (to have 3 or 4 or 5 selectors), and chose to appoint five, from different states

1931-32

C E Dolling, E A Dwyer, W J Johnston

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1932-33

1933-34

C E Dolling, E A Dwyer, W M Woodfull

Woodfull retired from all cricket after the 1934 tour and it was assumed therefore from the selection panel

1934-35

E A Dwyer, W J Johnston, and D G Bradman subsequently replaced by V Y Richardson

Johnston took Woodfull’s place as Victoria’s representative, and Bradman took over from Dolling (SA) who stood down. Then in December Bradman resigned and Vic Richardson took his place.

1935-36

E.A.Dwyer, W.J.Johnston, V.Y.Richardson

1936-37

E.A.Dwyer, W.A.Johnston, D.G.Bradman

Bradman, aged 28, joined the panel after the death of Dr CE Dolling 11 June 1936.

1937-38

E.A.Dwyer, W.J.Johnston, D.G.Bradman

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1938-39

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1945-46

E A Dwyer, D G Bradman, J Ryder

Board members continued to retain their right to choose a captain from the names the selectors gave them.

1946-47

E A Dwyer, D G Bradman, J Ryder

1947-48

E A Dwyer, D G Bradman, J Ryder

1948-49

E A Dwyer, D G Bradman, J Ryder

1949-50

E A Dwyer, D G Bradman, J Ryder

He became Sir Donald Bradman in the New Year Honours 1949.   Albert Vincent of NSW was temporarily appointed a selector on 15 September, to serve while Chappie Dwyer was absent on the South African tour.

1950-51

E A Dwyer, D G Bradman, J Ryder

In 1950-51 and again in 1952-53, every member of the Board of Control was wired the names of the selected Test team for approval before they could be announced.

1951-52

E A Dwyer, D G Bradman, J Ryder

Chappie Dwyer was dropped as a Test selector in September 1952 allegedly because Board members unfairly thought he had leaked information about them vetoing Sid Barnes’ selection against West Indies.

1952-53

W A Brown, P L Ridings, J Ryder

Bradman temporarily retired from the panel due to the illness of his son, John, before the 1952-53 season.  When Dwyer was beaten for a position as selector, New South Wales had no representative on the panel. Phil Ridings never played in a Test match but was captain of Australia in NZ 1950. Bill Brown retired from the panel in September 1953

1953-54

 (no selections needed)   P L Ridings, J Ryder

In July 1954 Dwyer withdrew from all selecting leaving the way clear for Dudley Seddon. Jack Ryder was seriously ill in 1953 and Lindsay Hassett might have become Victoria’s representative except that he was writing about cricket.

1954-55

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

The Board elected Dudley Seddon as a selector on 17 September 1954

1955-56

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

Bradman retired from the panel in April 1956 to write about the Test series in England and J U Jankte of South Australia took his place….

1956-57

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

 …..but on 21 September 1956 Bradman was reappointed as a  selector

1957-58

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

1958-59

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

1959-60

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

1960-61

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

Ray Lindwall’s name was put forward by Queensland but still no Australian bowler had been a selector this century.  Also, Bill Brown in 1953 remained the only Queenslander to have been a selector.

1961-62

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

1962-63

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

1963-64

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

1964-65

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

1965-66

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

1966-67

D G Bradman, J Ryder, D Seddon

Seddon stood down. The panel had served continuously for twelve seasons.

1967-68

D G Bradman, R N Harvey, J Ryder 

Neil Harvey became a selector on 8 September 1967, defeating Ray Lindwall in the ballot

1968-69

D G Bradman, R N Harvey, J Ryder 

1969-70

D G Bradman, R N Harvey, J Ryder 

Jack Ryder was 81 when he stood down; he had first been a member of the selection panel in 1926.

1970-71

D G Bradman, R N Harvey, S J Loxton 

Sam Loxton was appointed on 4 September 1970.  Bradman resigned on 9 February 1971

1971-72

R N Harvey, S J Loxton, P L Ridings

In September 1971  Phil Ridings, 52, took Bradman’s place, beating  Ken Mackay in a ballot.

1972-73

R N Harvey, S J Loxton, P L Ridings

1973-74

R N Harvey, S J Loxton, P L Ridings

1974-75

R N Harvey, S J Loxton, P L Ridings

1975-76

R N Harvey, S J Loxton, P L Ridings

1976-77

P L Ridings (ch),  R N Harvey, S J Loxton

This was the first time a chairman (ch) was appointed   

1977-78

P L Ridings (ch),  R N Harvey, S J Loxton

1978-79

P L Ridings (ch),  R N Harvey, S J Loxton

1979-80

P L Ridings (ch), A K Davidson, R R Lindwall, S J Loxton, G S Chappell (captain)

On 4 September 1979 the Board boosted the selection panel from 3 to 5 with Davidson’s election, plus the captain of the last Test team that played in Australia prior to selection. This was the first time that the captain had formally joined the committee. The rule excluded Kim Hughes from the panel because he often captained on tour but not in Australia

1980-81

P L Ridings (ch), A K Davidson, R R Lindwall, S J Loxton, G S Chappell (captain)

In October 1980 Ridings became the new ACB chairman, as well as chairman of selectors. Sam Loxton resigned on 13 April 1981

1981-82

P L Ridings (ch), A K Davidson, R R Lindwall, L V Maddocks, G S Chappell (captain)

Kim Hughes, skipper on the Ashes tour of 1981,  was relegated to vice-captain of Western Australia (Rod Marsh became captain) and unlikely to retain his position as skipper in the home Tests to Greg Chappell.  Len Maddocks was voted out in September 1982, and Bill Jacobs was an unsuccessful nominee

1982-83

P L Ridings (ch), A K Davidson, R R Lindwall, L M Sawle, G S Chappell (captain)

Lawrie Sawle was appointed on 9 September 1982.  He was the first Western Australian representative.

1983-84

P L Ridings (ch), A K Davidson, L M Sawle

Ridings, 66, announced his retirement. It was reported that a prominent ACB member told  Davidson, 55, he was “too old” and that Davidson chose to retire before he was sacked.

1984-85

L M Sawle (ch), G S Chappell, R B McCosker 

Chappell who had now given up playing and McCosker were both appointed on 12 July 1984.

1985-86

L M Sawle (ch), G S Chappell, R Guy, J D Higgs

Neither chairman Lawrie Sawle nor Richard Guy of New South Wales had played in a Test match

1986-87

L M Sawle (ch), G S Chappell, R Guy, J D Higgs

1987-88

L M Sawle (ch), G S Chappell, J D Higgs, R B Simpson (coach)

Coach Bob Simpson became a full member of the selection committee in July 1987.  Jim Higgs was chosen for the final place against Dick Guy and Murray Sargent (South Australia)

1988-89

L M Sawle (ch), J Benaud, J D Higgs, R B Simpson (coach)

On 9 September 1988 John Benaud replaced Greg Chappell who resigned; there were two other nominations from Ray Lindwall (Queensland) and Murray Sargent (South Australia)

1989-90

L M Sawle (ch), J Benaud, J D Higgs, R B Simpson (coach)

1990-91

L M Sawle (ch), J Benaud, J D Higgs, R B Simpson (coach)

1991-92

L M Sawle (ch), J Benaud, J D Higgs, R B Simpson (coach)

1992-93

L M Sawle (ch), J Benaud, J D Higgs, R B Simpson (coach)

1993-94

L M Sawle (ch), S R Bernard, J D Higgs, T V Hohns,  R B Simpson (coach).

The selection panel was enlarged from four to five at the start of the 1993-94 season.  Steve Bernard, a NSW selector for 11 seasons, replaced John Benaud who stood down after five years. Trevor Hohns also joined the panel.  Bob Simpson resigned in August 1994 saying that he was unable to watch enough domestic cricket

1994-95

L M Sawle (ch),  S R Bernard, J D Higgs, T V Hohns.

Lawrie Sawle stood down as a selector in August 1995

1995-96

T V Hohns (ch), S R Bernard, J D Higgs

Trevor Hohns was appointed as the new chairman on 14 September 1995

1996-97

T V Hohns (ch),   S R Bernard,   A M J Hilditch,  G R Marsh (coach).

Hilditch, the first South Australian selector since 1983 joined the panel for 1996-7

1997-98

T V Hohns (ch),   A M J Hilditch,  S R Bernard,  G R Marsh (coach).

Steve Bernard became Australian team manager in January 1998 and subsequently dropped out of the national selection panel.  Allan Border was appointed in February 1998.

1998-99

T V Hohns (chair), A M J Hilditch, A R Border

It was a 3-man panel. The coach was no longer a selector

1999-00

T V Hohns (ch),  A M J Hilditch,  A R Border, G R Marsh  

Geoff Marsh  resigned as Australia’s coach on 24 August 1999, and was  appointed a selector in September 1999

2000-01

T V Hohns (ch),  A M J Hilditch,  A R Border, G R Marsh (replaced by D C Boon)

David Boon was appointed in December 2000 on Geoff Marsh’s resignation

2001-02

T V Hohns (ch), A M J Hilditch, D C Boon, A R Border

2002-03

T V Hohns (ch), A M J Hilditch, D C Boon, A R Border

2003-04

T V Hohns (ch), A M J Hilditch, D C Boon, A R Border

2004-05

T V Hohns (ch), A M J Hilditch, D C Boon, A R Border

Allan Border resigned in April 2005.

2005-06

T V Hohns (ch), A M J Hilditch, D C Boon, M G Hughes

Merv Hughes was surprisingly appointed in June 2005 to take Allan Border’s place. Tom Hogan (WA), Ray Bright (Vic), Darren Lehmann (SA)  and Marshall Rosen (NSW) were all nominated unsuccessfully

On the resignation of Trevor Hohns in April 2006 Andrew Hilditch became the new chairman.

2006-07

A M J Hilditch (ch),  D C Boon,  M G Hughes,  A R Border (replaced by J Cox)

Allan Border was reappointed in June 2006, but resigned in October 2006, being replaced by Jamie Cox.

2007-08

A M J Hilditch (ch),  D C Boon,  M G Hughes,  J Cox

2008-09

A M J Hilditch (ch),  D C Boon,  M G Hughes,  J Cox

2009-10

A M J Hilditch (ch),  D C Boon,  M G Hughes,  J Cox

2010-11

A M J Hilditch (ch),  D C Boon,  G S Chappell,  J Cox

Greg Chappell became national talent manager and Australia’s first full-time selector while Merv Hughes was dropped from the panel in October 2010.   Ryan Terry (Director) was also a member of the selection panel.

2011

The 2011 Don Argus report recommended that in future the Chairman of Selectors should be a full-time paid position, which ruled out Hilditch who had a legal practice, and that the national talent manager, Greg Chappell, should not be part of the selection committee. The review  also  recommended that both the Australian coach and captain be added to the national selection panel. In August 2011 Cricket Australia decided to appoint John Inverarity as full-time “national selector”.   Jamie Cox stood down on 1 September 2011. 

2011-12

R J Inverarity (ch),  M Arthur (coach),  A J Bichel,  M J Clarke,  R W Marsh.

Michael Clarke joined the panel as captain.  Marsh and Bichel were added as part-time selectors in November 2011, while Mickey Arthur became coach and also a selector. 

2012-13

R J Inverarity (ch),  M Arthur (coach),  A J Bichel, M J Clarke,  R W Marsh.

Michael Clarke stood down as a selector in June 2013 ; Darren Lehmann replaced coach Mickey Arthur

2013-14

R J Inverarity (ch),   A J Bichel,  R W Marsh,  D S Lehmann (coach)

2014-15

R W Marsh (ch),  T V Hohns, D S Lehmann, M E Waugh

Rodney Marsh was made chair for three years on 1 July 2014.  Trevor Hohns and Mark Waugh were added to the panel