Lehmann said captain Michael Clarke will get as “long as he needs” to come out of his batting slump
Australia coach Darren Lehmann
Birmingham: Australia coach Darren Lehmann has said captain Michael Clarke will get as “long as he needs” to come out of his batting slump.
Scores of 10 and three during Australia eight-wicket defeat by England in the third Test at Edgbaston — a result that saw the tourists go 2-1 behind in the five-match Ashes campaign, left Clarke with a meagre series aggregate of 94 runs in six innings at an average of under 19.
Following a match that was all over inside three days of a scheduled five, Clarke confronted his own failings by suggesting Australia were playing with 10 men.
Clarke, who for much of his career had enjoyed a Test average of over 50 — the mark of an all-time great — is averaging a mere 18.80 this Ashes. Indeed his average slipped to below 50 after this test for the first time in three years.
And having been plagued by a longstanding back complaint, as well as more recent hamstring trouble, there has been speculation this could be the 34-year-old’s last tour.
But Lehmann believes the class that has seen Clarke score 28 Test hundreds has not deserted him. “He’ll get as long as he needs, he’s captain,” Lehmann said after Friday’s quickfire defeat. “We’re not going to panic,” he said.
( Source : AFP )
Next Story
