Lehmann aims for Ashes tour

[Beny]

Lehmann aims for Ashes tour

By Chloe Saltau
Adelaide
November 24, 2004

If Darren Lehmann is allowed to determine the time of his departure from international cricket, it will not be at least until after next year's Ashes series.


Although Lehmann desperately needs to break through in Adelaide after raising just one half-century from his past six innings, the 34-year-old South Australian yesterday ended speculation he would use his home Test against New Zealand starting on Friday as a swansong.

"I'm definitely not retiring. While I'm enjoying cricket I'll keep playing and I'm certainly enjoying playing cricket still, so there are no thoughts like that in my mind at all. I'll play as long as I possibly can," he said.

Even NZ coach John Bracewell appeared to have Lehmann pensioned off. Bracewell took exception to Lehmann's comment yesterday that NZ would carry "psychological bruises" into the second Test after its merciless drubbing in the first.

"One, I don't know what Darren's psychology qualifications are to make that assessment, and two, I think it's unfair to label all players the same thing," Bracewell said last night. "I mean, it's nice that he's doing some work towards his retirement in terms of furthering his education but I think he should keep that to himself until he's actually got the qualification."

Despite a lean tour of India for Lehmann - notwithstanding his 70 in Australia's series-clinching victory at Nagpur - and a failure in the first Test against NZ at the Gabba, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns indicated he could still add value to the Australian side as it planned for the future.
"It wasn't the right time for him to depart the scene because his form had been very, very good over the last 12 months, there's no doubt about that," Hohns said of the decision to retain Lehmann ahead of Simon Katich in the Australian team. "Right now we're fairly content."

Still, Lehmann the realist senses he must play every Test as if it is his last. "There are so many good players around Australia waiting in the wings, everyone in the side from one to 11 knows they have to play well each and every Test match."

· Cricket Australia would consult players before making a decision on resting or rotating Test cricketers, chief executive James Sutherland said yesterday.

Sutherland said the idea of rotating Test players - floated by by national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns at the weekend - had always been "on the drawing boards" and would need to be considered in the future in light of the increasingly busy calendar.

"To some extent, we do it at the moment in that . . . we don't always have the best one-day team in the field. It's a man-management issue and it's about making sure that you make the most of your resources."

Sutherland said while the congested calendar was a reason players needed to be better managed, there was another side.

"Some players would say that the longer the break they have, the more likely they are to get injured," he said.

But the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association, Tim May, rejected the suggestion. "The breaks we are talking about are not like three or four months," he said. "Players are far more likely to injure themselves through too much cricket. If some players would rather play than not play, then why are we recommending the rotational policy? I don't understand that reasoning."

- with Nabila Ahmed

[Zainub]

I have this hunch Beny, that unless he makes some big, really big scores this summer, he won't be going to England next summer.

[Beny]

I think that we learnt our lesson about writing off class players after a few poor proformances. Last summer many australians were calling for Damian Marytn's blood after a few very poor proformances. He responded by saving the team in Sri Lanka with a supurb innings which many regard as his best, proving once and for all that he can play spin. Since then he has made 4 tons and (about) 3 50+ scores, including the 70 against NZ which really stabalized our innings.

Lehman has been, for about the past 2 years, an intergeral part of our middle order. A batsmen who can change his style and agression to suit the situation and a good character who everybody in the Aussie team and public loves.

I think he's still got a bit in him and I would trust him to make the right decision as to when he should retire. Lets not forget that he played a very good 70 in India which was probebly worth 100+. It was a major parternship until he was struck with an injury.

[Zainub]

You might well be right Beny, that 70 was indeed a crucial knock at a crucial time, I will hardly be surprised if indeed my hunch is proved wrong, it was only a hunch after all.