Image courtesy of: The Guardian
Lehmann will give his players days off throughout the Ashes
Newly appointed Australia coach Darren Lehmann has revealed his own twist to Cricket Australia’s controversial rotation policy, stating that players will still be rotated, but only on a common sense basis.
Lehmann has voiced his hatred towards resting pace bowlers between Test matches on numerous occasions and the 43-year-old has also adopted the same view as former spin king Shane Warne, whereby he believes the selectors should be picking the best XI on every occasion.
“We are going to pick the best available each and every time,” Lehmann said. ” [But] they’ve got to be fully fit to play. If they are fully fit and they can get through Test matches they will play and if they’re not they won’t, that’s as simple as it will be.”
However, Lehmann noted that he will also not overwork his players as the Australian squad, especially the pace bowlers, have been extremely susceptible to career-threatening injuries in the past.
“I am certainly guided by the guys that do that,” Lehmann said. “At the end of the day we will have to make calls and each case will be different I am sure. We will judge that as it comes. We need them to be fit for the five days, and that’s what we’re aiming for.”
As of right now, Lehmann’s top priority for all the players is their performance and when it comes to this topic, the 43-year-old has a very simple ideology.
“We always talk about performing,” he said. “If you’re performing, you’re in the side.
“It’s been really enjoyable, myself being a cricket nuffy, watching them play has been great fun. They’ve trained well and there’s been a positive feel around the group.
“It’s a been a tough couple of days for the players and support staff and everyone involved in Cricket Australia. We’ve got to get on with our job, not look back, move forward and hopefully have some good results along the way.”
Lehmann also stated that he felt it was necessary to give his players days off during the Ashes series.
“They can have a day off,” he said. “They don’t have too many days off full-stop, so when we get a rest we’ll work with the support staff and try to get them a rest.”