“We’ve got to stop the rot, we’ve got to work out what the best XI is”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Australia head coach Darren Lehmann has revealed that only four players are assured of keeping their place in the Test side following the national team’s dismal performance in the ongoing Test series against South Africa.
The Baggy Greens lost the first Test in Perth by 177 runs before putting up an even worse performance in Hobart, where they were thrashed by an innings and 80 runs, which saw South Africa claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.
With Australia having suffered their fifth consecutive loss in the longest format of the game, Lehmann acknowledged that there will “definitely” be changes made to the squad for the day-night Test in Adelaide.
Furthermore, with the second Test having concluded inside of four days, all the batsmen, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and spinner Nathan Lyon will be required to play in this week’s round of the Sheffield Shield. However, the three pace bowlers – Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Joe Mennie, who made his Test debut in Hobart – will not be required to play domestic cricket.
With the squad for the third Test to be named on Sunday, Lehmann confirmed that only Starc, Hazlewood, captain Steven Smith and opener David Warner were guaranteed a spot in the starting XI.
“We’ve got to stop the rot, we’ve got to work out what the best XI is,” Lehmann said. “Guys playing in this test match, some were disappointed in their performances and they get the chance to play the Shield games to put their hand up.
“I thought Hazlewood was great, Starc’s getting back to his best and then you’ve got Smith and Warner. Outside of that everyone’s got to make some runs and take some wickets. It’s a really important four days of Shield cricket.”
Batsman Adam Voges’ place in the squad has come under scrutiny as of late, but Lehmann refused to say whether he will be given another run in Adelaide.
“Like everyone else, Adam’s been a very good player for us for 20-odd test matches,” he said. “End of the day he’s got to go back and make runs like everyone else.”
Lehmann admitted that the players are “hurting” after losing the series, and added that former players have been speaking to them in an attempt to help them turn things around and salvage some pride in the final Test.
“Everybody is hurting in the rooms. I haven’t seen it as quiet after a loss and that’s understandable because of the performances,” he said. “We pride ourselves on playing for our country and we haven’t done that well enough over the last three and a half days.
“Mark Taylor and Shane Warne have been chatting to the guys one on one. Ian Healy, Tom Moody, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, we’ve had a lot of the legends come in. The young guys who are playing today looked up to them. It’s great to have them in the rooms and speaking to them.”