LEHMANN: AUSSIE CRICKET MUST CHANGE ITS WAYS
DARREN LEHMANN has vowed to change the “boundary-pushing” culture of Australian cricket in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.
The Aussie coach (left, top) denied prior knowledge of the cheating that led to year-long bans for Steve Smith and David Warner (left, middle), and a ninemonth suspension for Cameron Bancroft (bottom).
But he accepted his side must clean up its act if it is to avoid more shameful episodes like the one in South Africa.
Lehmann said: ‘‘I need to change and we need to change
JOE ROOT wants his players to make one last push at the end of an energy-sapping winter to avoid a second series defeat and their worst touring record in history. The England captain held lengthy meetings with his players at the end of an intense, competitive training session in Christchurch with changes on the cards for the last Test of the winter. And in them Root (above) asked his players to leave everything out in the middle and to use all their experience to try to find a way to get back to the basics of Test-match cricket. Big first innings runs and 20 wickets. Neither department is working particularly well at the moment, but it is their bowling that is providing the greatest concern, with injury-prone Mark Wood pushing for a return to provide some genuine pace. “We wanted to chat things over and make sure we give ourselves every opportunity to take 20 wickets as a bowling group,” said Root. “It was something we needed. “Hopefully we can put right what was a really bad week. “There’s a natural motivation in coming back from such a poor week and making sure we’re far better than we have been on this tour so far.
“We’ve got an opportunity now at a completely new venue with different conditions and it’s about exploiting them.
“A big focus for us is that we’re trying to change the way we go about things to find the best way for us to get to 400 and take 20 wickets. Do we have to do something different? Do we need to change our bowling lengths?”
The answer to that is a resounding yes since the ‘back of a length’ model that works so well in England is just not penetrating enough overseas.
Chris Woakes (circle, top) and Craig Overton are not creating either the chances or the pressure required and it is inconceivable both will play here. Jack Leach is also set to replace Moeen Ali (circle, bottom) as England’s spin option.
The skipper reckons his players also owe head coach Trevor Bayliss a performance with his position in charge of the Test team being called into question due to their form abroad.
“I think Trevor has been very good around the group and very helpful for me,” he added. “It’s very easy to look at external things, but we as players have a responsibility to put things right.
“He’s been very good at trying to take the pressure off us and allowing us to try and perform at our best even when it has got tough.
“He’s got some brilliant ideas about how we keep moving forward as a group. He’s a very talented coach and the right man to take us forward to the end of his tenure.”