Describing Hilditch as a reclusive person, the writer said he had failed to be the public face of the selection panel despite getting adequately paid for that.

"...it is not as if he is being paid mere petrol money to do the job. As chairman, his salary of more than 100,000 dollar is twice as much as those of the other three selectors – Merv Hughes, Jamie Cox and David Boon – and part of the extra money is a sweetener for being the public face of the panel.

"So far it has been a very private public face," he added.

Another daily, 'Herald Sun', didn't spare him either.

"As Australia's cricket team struggled on the opening day of the Third Test yesterday, one of the men charged with charting its success was on a beach in holiday mode.

"As Hilditch sunned himself at picturesque Sellicks Beach, and South Africa prepared to put Australia to the sword, the selector's non-appearance in the stands raised eyebrows after a week of intense scrutiny over the level of talent in the national side," it added.

Even though a Cricket Australia spokesman defended Hilditch's no-show and said he could not be at every venue every day, the daily was less than convinced.

It went on to quote former selector John Benaud as saying that the current selection panel was "too conservative" and needed be overhauled to include spin legend Shane Warne.

"I think at least one change (to the panel) is worthwhile. Take out either Hilditch, (David) Boon or (Jamie) Cox – one of those three must go," Benaud said.