Pay-war break may benefit Aussies, says Lehmann

SYDNEY: Darren Lehmann promised Australia won’t be under-prepared for their tour of Bangladesh after a pay dispute left them temporarily unemployed — and said the enforced break may have even done them good.

But the coach said he would be sure to put his 14-man squad through their paces at a oneweek training camp in tropical Darwin, before they leave for the two-Test tour next Friday.

The camp represents the first formal cricket environment for Australia’s top internationals since they were booted out of the Champions Trophy in June.

Since then, they were among about 230 players who were technically unemployed for more than a month over a long-running pay dispute, which was finally resolved last week.

But despite having only a week to prepare for their first Test tour of Bangladesh in more than a decade, Lehmann said the disruption was not a concern.

Lehmann said the break from playing and touring had even benefited some players by refreshing them mentally and physically heading into the Bangladesh tour.

Lehmann added: “The Darwin camp wickets are very similar to what we’ll get in Bangladesh – they’re low and they’re slow, and they will spin.

Australia play Tests in Dhaka from August 27-31 and Chittagong from September 4-8, their first in Bangladesh since 2006.