Melbourne, Oct 17 Overlooking public sentiment, Cricket Australia has re-appointed unpopular chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch for another two years.

Hilditch, chairman of the panel since 2006 and a selector since 2000, has been criticised as Australia's performance - particularly in Test matches - declined in the past two years.

The CA's board gave him a unanimous vote of support at its regular meeting in Melbourne yesterday, appointing the former Test opening batsman till the end of the 2011 World Cup.

The board has also moved away from its earlier talk that future chairmen of selectors would be full-time appointments, The Age reported.

"He's very highly regarded within cricket. He's highly regarded by the board and by Cricket Australia generally. He and the other selectors undertake work that people don't see or understand," said Peter Young, CA's public affairs chief.

Young said the term of Hilditch's tenure related to planning for the 2011 World Cup on the Indian subcontinent.

"'Since winning the ICC Champions Trophy (in South Africa), we've now moved into planning mode for 2011, and we're also in planning for the next Ashes series (2010-11)."

The decision not to pick a reserve opening batsman for the Ashes tour this year was heavily questioned, and the failure to select a spinner for the deciding Test in England on a pitch that turned square was viewed as a critical failure. (ANI)