New-look Aussies ‘copped a lot’, says coach
AUSTRALIA coach Darren Lehmann said his players “copped a lot” of criticism before they emphatically halted a run of Test defeats against South Africa, adding that he’d love to keep his new-look team together.
Lehmann said that he was delighted for the experimental side, which featured five changes including three debutants, as Australia’s selection gam- ble paid off in the third Test against South Africa.
The Australians ended a five-Test losing streak with a commanding sevenwicket victory over the Proteas, after being well beaten in the previous two games of the three-Test series.
“I’m just pleased for the players. The players have copped a lot over the last few weeks and they have responded really well. Obviously a change of players as well.”
Lehmann’s coaching role was under the spotlight during the run of defeats, which prompted chairman of selectors Rod Marsh to step down calling for some “fresh thinking”.
One key criticism was the decision to rest fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and John Hazlewood for the 5-0 ODI defeat in South Africa. In Adelaide, Starc and Hazlewood hit form as they took 12 wickets between them to bowl Australia to victory in the day-night third Test in Adelaide.
Lehmann said there were no plans to rest them for the upcoming threematch ODI series against New Zealand, although he wasn’t sure if they would play every game.