National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch insists veteran paceman Stuart Clark remains on the Ashes radar.

Clark, 34, missed out to NSW team-mate Doug Bollinger (28) for the fourth fast-bowling berth behind incumbents Peter Siddle (24), Mitchell Johnson (28) and Ben Hilfenhaus (26).

Clark has out-bowled Bollinger in NSW's Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania on a lifeless SCG pitch, but the left-armer's form in recent ODIs saw him gain the nod.

Hilditch denied Clark's age was a consideration, saying: "No. It's an assessment of Doug at the moment.

"Stuart's very unlucky not to be selected but we've been very impressed with the form of Doug Bollinger in the recent Indian series and we think he deserves his opportunity in an Australian squad.

"We think he's bowling really, really well.

"He was very impressive when he got an opportunity in Dubai in the one-day series there and then went to India and really came away as one of the key bowlers of that series.

"We just think it's the right time to give him a chance."

Bollinger has played one Test, taking two for 131 against South Africa in Sydney in January.

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Asked if Clark remained in the Ashes frame ahead of England's visit to Australia next year, Hilditch responded: "It all depends on form. In all three forms of the game, what we're normally doing is preparing for key series.

"Twenty20 we're preparing for the World Cup, which is just around the corner, and one-day cricket we're preparing for the 2011 World Cup.

"At this stage we'd like to win every Test match going into the Ashes because we're trying to build confidence in the new team, but we have our eye very much on the Ashes.

"If our assessment at the time is Stuart's the best bowler for the Ashes and he's still going well, then so be it.

"But at the moment we're preferring this bowling group.

"We're very confident with the young group of players coming through. It's a very young bowling squad but they are all proving themselves very successfully at international level."

While the immediate focus is on this summer's home series against West Indies and Pakistan, Hilditch admitted one eye was on building a competitive side to win back the Ashes in 2010/11.

"Reflecting on the (2009) Ashes, it was extremely disappointing for the side but, that being said, the nucleus of that side all performed well as individuals," he said.

"We're very confident this young group going forward will do well in this series coming up, but also we're very much in preparation for the next Ashes which is now only 12 month away.

"The key for us before the Ashes is to become more and more consistent.

"We lost the Ashes because we played three poor sessions and when we played a poor session it was a shocker.

"The key for this side moving forward is to get better and better."

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