Former Test all-rounder Tony Dodemaide joins Australian selection panel

The selection panel for Australian cricket teams has three members again after former Test-all-rounder Tony Dodemaide was named as a replacement for Trevor Hohns.

Dodemaide, who played 10 Tests and 24 ODIs for Australia, will join the men’s chairman George Bailey and coach Justin Langer ahead of this summer’s Ashes against England.

A stalwart of cricket in Victoria, where he played 93 Sheffield Shield games, Dodemaide has held several significant positions in cricket administrations since his retirement, including a stint as MCC head of cricket at Lord’s.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a contribution not only in the immediate tournaments and series but also to help chart the medium to longer term course of the Australian men’s teams,” Dodemaide said.

“I can’t wait to offer my experience in cricket as a player and in management to assist George (Bailey) and JL (Langer) but also the wider Australian cricket high performance network.

“Throughout my cricket journey I have often been close to high performance and selection, so I feel well suited to and prepared for this role.”

Dodemaide is currently general manager of Hockey One, the new elite national competition for Australian hockey. He will step down from that position to join the NSP in mid-November prior to the home Vodafone Ashes series.

Cricket Australia executive general manager of high performance and national teams Ben Oliver said Dodemaide was chosen from a “very strong field” of candidates, which included several former national players.

“He is an ideal fit for the selector role at this time and brings skills and experience that will complement George and Justin while adding value to the team and high performance area more broadly,” he said.

Dodemaide was part of one of Victoria’s most memorable eras as a player alongside teammates including Merv Hughes and Dean Jones before he returned as Cricket Victoria chief executive.