Lehmann shrugs off more criticism from Warne
Tension between Darren Lehmann and Shane Warne has surfaced for the third time in the space of nine months.
Warne was highly critical of Australia’s decision to pick veteran Peter Siddle for the fifth Ashes Test instead of young gun Pat Cummins.
Siddle was Australia’s best bowler in the series finale by some margin, suggesting reports of his international career being over may have been greatly exaggerated.
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Warne opined throughout the game he would have picked Siddle for the fourth Test, but selectors should have looked to the future in the dead rubber.
Lehmann wasn’t pleased, showing as much when asked about the selectors’ performance throughout the series.
“I don’t think we were too bad to be honest. I know Warney gives us a lot,” Australia’s coach said on Sky Sports.
“He’s always going to do that. That’s the way Shane Warne is.
“Shane’s entitled to his opinion.
“But … there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes when you are making decisions.”
Warne is a close friend of Michael Clarke’s and alleged the retiring captain and Lehmann both wanted Cummins to play at The Oval, only for chairman of selectors Rod Marsh to overrule them.
Lehmann was disappointed the Siddle selection had become such a hot topic and denied he wasn’t on board with the call.
“Peter was in our original squad and the chairman Rodney and I thought it was the best opportunity to give him that chance ahead of Pat,” he said.
“Someone like Shane Warne always has his opinion because he loves an opinion full stop.
“That’s fine but he doesn’t know what goes on behind the scenes and we’ll keep it at that.”
Former teammates Lehmann and Warne rowed in Brisbane last summer, when the legendary legspinner described Mitchell Starc’s body language as “a bit soft” during a commentary stint.
“That’s very harsh … I will take it up with Shane myself,” Lehmann said at the time.
During the World Cup, Warne questioned the balance of power between coach and captain in a radio interview.
“He’s got to remember what it was like when he played and what the coaches were like. The captain is in charge,” Warne said.
“He’s got to be a little bit careful that he’s got to stop walking out on the MCG and declaring.
“That’s the captain’s job.”
Meanwhile, Lehmann backed veteran paceman Peter Siddle to add to his tally of Tests and perhaps become just the 15th Australian to take 200 wickets.
Siddle is on 198 Test scalps after his six-wicket haul at The Oval and, according to Lehmann, he’s very much in the frame to add to that haul.
That is despite Australia’s wealth of fast-bowling talent, and Lehmann’s personal preference for express pace.
“The way he bowled, he was fantastic this game,” Lehmann said.
“If he gets it in the right areas, he’s a quality bowler and his record speaks for itself.
“So we’re really pleased that he bowled the way he did and there’s always a future.
“We’re not saying we pick out-and-out fast bowlers all the time – obviously it may seem that way, but we pick the best team to try and win every game.”
– with AAP