Healy: Move on from Bailey, and McDonald is "in the gun"

The heat is on the Australian cricket team after the disappointing end to the three-Test away series in South Africa.

The Aussies started brilliantly in Durban, dominating the first Test, but ultimately fell well short in the second and third Tests in Gqeberha and Cape Town respectively, despite finding themselves in winning positions in both.

On-field decisions in those poor results have been laid at the feet of captain Pat Cummins, but Australian wicketkeeping great Ian Healy thinks that coach Andrew McDonald deserves some of the off-field blame.

While Healy is hearing rumours that McDonald is shaping up to receive a contract extension, he has the former all-rounder in the gun with other options nipping at his heels.

"The captain in cricket runs the show and takes the rap," Healy explained on SENQ Breakfast.

"The coach stays out of those areas (like what to do at the toss), but Andrew McDonald is a selector.

"I think the selectors, with their laughable squad that was unbalanced and in South Africa, really need looking at.

"I can't believe they got the Nic Maddinson selection over the line.

"What I'm hearing is they are looking at extending the coach... but what I'd be doing is enquiring about the availability of several. Can we get Ricky Ponting?

"He (McDonald) is in the gun. I don't mind one more year, McDonald taking us through to the Ashes.

"If things don't improve, then I would have worked on a high-profile player to carry our next generation forward as head coach."

Given that one of the reasons why Healy has McDonald in the hot seat is due to several eyebrow-raising selections, he was asked simply, should chief selector George Bailey lose his job?

Healy's response to that was fairly blunt.

"Yes, I think so. I think it's time to move on," Healy replied.

"But he's also got a selection panel he's got to get these selections over with.

"That's the coach and Tony Dodemaide, a second selector, they are together.

"It's a bit mind-boggling at times how you can get a selection over the line with three of you agreeing to do it."

Bailey has been chief selector since August 2021 and has served on the national selection panel since November 2019.