The Ashes: Darren Lehmann labels victors ‘dour’

AUSTRALIA coach Darren Lehmann is confident his team can stop “dour” England winning a fourth successive Ashes series this winter.

Darren Lehmann. Picture: Getty

Lehmann caused a stir during England’s march to a 3-0 success this summer when, in a radio interview for an Australian station, he accused Stuart Broad of cheating. The former Test batsman, hastened into position as national coach to replace the sacked Mickey Arthur only weeks before the start of the Ashes, apologised and was disciplined for those remarks. Broad had been at the centre
of controversy during the opening Test at Trent Bridge when he did not walk and was given not out despite edging a ball to slip, via the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

As England announced their squad at Lord’s yesterday lunchtime for the re-match with Australia, starting in Brisbane in November, Lehmann once again had his say. Asked on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuffers and Vaughan about England’s style, he said: “Dour. It’s not the type of cricket I’d play. At times I’d like to see their over rates picked up.”

Lehmann also reiterated claims that Australia believe they have worked out some of England’s batsmen, No 3 Jonathan Trott a case in point. “We’ve found England cracks and worked out plans. I’m always confident,” he added. “We found out a few things about England. I like the way we played in the last three Tests; I liked the attitude, and aggression.

“Trott’s a good player. But I think we’ve worked out plans, which seem to work for most of their batters.”

England batsman Kevin Pietersen poked fun at Lehmann’s remarks. On Twitter he wrote: “I can’t remember the score line in Ashes... 3-0 or almost 4-0??”