For a second, the startled look on Darren Lehmann’s face suggests he has simply noticed an England selector lurking within the shadows at Wantage Street. The truth is, his consideration has been grabbed by a hailstorm – an indication, maybe, that the county season is little over per week away.
When it begins, Lehmann – the straight-talking Australian about to embark on his second season as coach of Northamptonshire – is assured the strains of communication between England and the counties can have improved, following ECB managing director Rob Key’s pledge to pay extra consideration to runs scored and wickets taken within the home recreation.
Then once more, so far as Lehmann is worried, the strains might hardly have change into any extra blurred. Simply earlier than Christmas, with Australia about to retain the Ashes in Adelaide, he vented his spleen on Check Match Particular: ‘Who’re the selectors, by the best way? I’ve not seen them in my time in county cricket. Can somebody inform us, please? I’ve by no means spoken to a selector and by no means seen a selector, and I’m a county coach. Unbelievable.’
The dig didn’t go down properly with Key, however the level had been made, with Lehmann particularly infuriated that Saif Zaib, the Northamptonshire middle-order batsman who final summer season scored extra first-class runs – 1,425 – than anybody within the nation, had not been chosen even by England Lions.
That appeared to bolster an previous stereotype: in case you play for a smaller county, you’re higher off shifting someplace greater to catch England’s consideration. Take Ben Duckett, who reignited his worldwide profession solely after leaving Northamptonshire for Nottinghamshire.
‘That was the case beforehand,’ Lehmann tells Every day Mail Sport. ‘I don’t suppose it will likely be the case shifting ahead. The sheer weight of media and followers need one of the best gamers taking part in. You’ve seen that come out over the previous few days, the place they’re going to respect county cricket a bit extra. That’s a extremely good factor.’
‘I feel you’ll discover there will probably be a greater connection now between the counties and the ECB,’ says Northants head coach Darren Lehmann
Lehmann was infuriated when Saif Zaib, the Northamptonshire middle-order batsman who final summer season scored extra first-class runs than anybody, was ignored by England Lions
He provides with a chuckle: ‘I’ve been talking to the selectors of late. Humorous that – you usually get cellphone calls the place you trigger a little bit of controversy. However I feel you’ll discover there’ll be a greater connection now between the counties and the ECB.’
That could possibly be excellent news for Zaib, whose six championship lots of in 2025 had been probably the most for the membership since Lance Klusener in 2006. At 27, he believes his finest years are forward of him. However are they essentially at Wantage Street, the place he made his first-team debut on the age of 15, and the place his contract expires in two summers’ time?
‘It’s residence for me,’ he says. ‘If there was ever a chance to depart, it could be fairly robust. I don’t need to say by no means, and also you take a look at somebody like Ben Duckett, who moved to a distinct county – and look the place he’s now. However he succeeded by scoring runs. If I can do the identical this summer season, hopefully that can get me seen.’
Zaib was disenchanted to not be chosen for both of the Lions’ winter excursions, to Australia and the UAE, however says he did get a name from Luke Wright – then the nationwide selector – on the finish of final season, telling him he was heading in the right direction.
Lehmann explains what the selectors ultimately informed him about Zaib’s non-selection: ‘They mentioned they didn’t suppose Australia suited the best way he performed, which I really perceive a bit bit. He’s going to enhance his play in opposition to quick bowling.
‘However I didn’t agree with not taking him to the UAE, as a result of he’s such an excellent participant of spin. They need him to bat greater, which is honest sufficient as properly, so we’ve simply obtained to facilitate that.’
Lehmann, who coached Australia for 5 years till resigning over the sandpaper fiasco in 2018, has a foot on each side of the Ashes divide, and commentated on the current collection for the Australian Broadcasting Company.
Requested the place he thinks England went unsuitable, he doesn’t hesitate: ‘Oh, preparation. Their preparation was non-existent. You’ll be able to’t go to Australia and never play first-class video games, then play at Lilac Hill however not the WACA.
‘In the event you don’t do the prep and don’t play properly, that’s a no no. However I feel they’ll study from that,’ says Lehmann of England’s Ashes planning
Ben Duckett, pictured with Brendon McCullum (proper), reignited his worldwide profession solely after leaving Northamptonshire for Nottinghamshire
‘They performed very well on the again finish of the tour, which was no shock as a result of they’d had some good, onerous cricket, but it surely was too late. Preparation is a simple one. In the event you do all of the prep and don’t play properly, that’s OK. In the event you don’t do the prep and don’t play properly, that’s a no no. However, once more, I feel they’ll study from that.’
What about England’s determination to stay with Brendon McCullum, regardless of the 4–1 defeat? ‘I’m OK protecting the identical individuals,’ says Lehmann. ‘However then these individuals in all probability shouldn’t say: “We’ll be judged on the Ashes.” That’s the issue you’ve obtained. They haven’t gained the Ashes for 11 years. You’re beginning to get to the stage the place, in case you don’t win it in 2027, you in all probability gained’t win subsequent time in Australia, after which it’s a very long time.
‘I feel they’ll beat New Zealand and Pakistan this summer season, after which everybody will probably be trying ahead to the Ashes the next 12 months. That’ll be the large testing level. In the event that they lose, then it’s going to have been the unsuitable alternative not do something now. In the event that they win, it’s effective.’
May Zaib change into a part of the story? ‘I’ve informed him his problem is to make extra lots of than he did final 12 months,’ says Lehmann. ‘When you do this, the selectors can’t ignore you.’
For the primary time shortly, it’s a sentence that may be uttered with conviction.
