FORMER Test player Ed Cowan has slammed Australian selectors for treating the national side like a “development squad” and picking players they like rather than players who deserve an opportunity.

Cowan — who wore the baggy green 18 times — was critical of the side that lost to India on Monday morning (AEST) in the first game of the five match ODI series, taking particular offence to all-rounder Hilton Cartwright’s inclusion.

The West Australian made his ODI debut in that game and opened the batting (covering for the injured Aaron Finch), but managed only a single before being bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. Selectors obviously like what they see from the 25-year-old having already given him a Test debut last summer and promoting him to the final XI for the second Test in the Aussies’ recent tour of Bangladesh.

But Cowan said the right-hander didn’t deserve a shot in India ahead of other players who have dominated the domestic scene.

“There are a few overarching issues — India is number three in the world, we’re number two in the world yet we’re treating our national team like a development squad at times,” Cowan said on Fox Sports program Bill and Boz.

“This is not the series to be blooding players.

“Pick your best team every game and there will be chances through the year because of injury, because of playing a weaker country where you can bring guys in.

“But to turn on the TV and see — and this is no offence to Hilton Cartwright who’s a fine player — but there are people who bust their guts in the domestic competition and blow it out of the water, they get one or two chances and then they’re sacked off.”

Cartwright averages 27.5 in the baggy green and a healthy 45.05 after 23 first-class outings. But he’s struggled in the coloured clothing, scoring just 101 runs at an average of 16.83 in the six games he played in last summer’s one day domestic competition. That’s hardly a season that demands he be part of the Australian ODI side’s top order, but he was given the nod.

Steve Smith’s men were chasing 164 from 21 overs in their loss to India which was affected by rain. Cartwright is an aggressive batsman, so may have been promoted to open as Smith searched for quick runs, but Cowan says he should never have been on the field in the first place.

Players like NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques (414 runs at 69), Cameron White (457 runs at 76.16) and Callum Ferguson (305 runs at 61) all dominated last season’s Matador One Day Cup but were overlooked for the tour to the subcontinent.

“I’m using him (Cartwright) as an example — he’s a fine cricketer, nice guy — but averaged 16 with the bat. One hundred runs at 16 for the whole competition yet he’s the guy that opens the batting for Australia,” Cowan said.

“There are guys who averaged 40 or 50. (NSW all-rounder) Moises Henriques has averaged 70 twice and he plays two games in the Champions Trophy and is out the door.

“This guy (Cartwright) will play a lot of cricket for Australia and he will do very well, but now is not the time.

“He is a fine four-day player, but this is a completely different format. In Test cricket I don’t mind him batting at six. In one day cricket, opening the batting — there are guys queuing up to do that.

“They (the selectors) are picking guys based on who they want to pick. There’s no structure based around performance a lot of the time.”

Cowan said Usman Khawaja — who was dropped again after the first Test of the Bangladesh tour — should have been opening the batting instead.

Australia’s next match against India is on Thursday starting at 6pm (AEST).