Lehmann pans boycott talk

Australia coach Darren Lehmann says cricket’s warring parties will settle their pay dispute amicably and remains convinced a player boycott won’t throw this year’s Ashes series into unprecedented turmoil.

Lehmann spoke as he left for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament, which will bring Australian cricket’s leading male players together for the first time since the pay dispute escalated.

The Australian Cricketers’ Association and the sport’s governing body, Cricket Australia, remain at loggerheads over the details of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU), which would come into effect after the current pay deal expires.

CA wants to move away from the revenue-sharing model that has served the game for the past 20 years, a stance that has thrown players into an open revolt that has included the threat of a boycott.

‘‘If it gets to the extreme they might not have a team for the Ashes,’’ said opener David Warner earlier in the week. ‘‘We won’t buckle at all; we are standing together and very strong.’’

Lehmann believes that’s a bridge too far and while be believes negotiations will go down to the wire, has no doubt that test cricket’s showpiece series will go ahead as planned.

‘‘No, I wouldn’t think so [that a boycott would happen]. And I’d hope not as a fan. I’m sure that won’t happen,’’ Lehmann said.

‘‘I think both parties have just got to get talking.’’