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 Highway. In reality, 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 traces of communication between England and the counties could have improved, following ECB managing director Rob Key’s pledge to pay extra consideration to runs scored and wickets taken within the home sport.
Then once more, so far as Lehmann is worried, the traces may hardly have develop into any extra blurred. Simply earlier than Christmas, with Australia about to retain the Ashes in Adelaide, he vented his spleen on Take a look at Match Particular: ‘Who’re the selectors, by the way in which? 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 nicely 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 strengthen an previous stereotype: in the event 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 the perfect gamers taking part in. You’ve seen that come out over the previous couple of days, the place they’re going to respect county cricket a bit extra. That’s a very good factor.’
‘I believe you’ll discover there shall 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 neglected by England Lions
He provides with a chuckle: ‘I’ve been chatting with the selectors of late. Humorous that – you usually get cellphone calls the place you trigger a little bit of controversy. However I believe you’ll discover there’ll be a greater connection now between the counties and the ECB.’
That may very well be excellent news for Zaib, whose six championship a whole lot 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 Highway, 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 house for me,’ he says. ‘If there was ever a chance to go away, it could be fairly powerful. I don’t wish to say by no means, and also you take a look at somebody like Ben Duckett, who moved to a unique 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 may get me observed.’
Zaib was disillusioned 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 instructed him about Zaib’s non-selection: ‘They mentioned they didn’t suppose Australia suited the way in which he performed, which I really perceive a little bit bit. He’s going to enhance his play towards 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 larger, which is honest sufficient as nicely, so we’ve simply bought 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 sequence for the Australian Broadcasting Company.
Requested the place he thinks England went incorrect, he doesn’t hesitate: ‘Oh, preparation. Their preparation was non-existent. You possibly can’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 nicely, that’s a no no. However I believe they’ll be taught 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, arduous 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 nicely, that’s OK. In the event you don’t do the prep and don’t play nicely, that’s a no no. However, once more, I believe they’ll be taught from that.’
What about England’s choice to stay with Brendon McCullum, regardless of the 4–1 defeat? ‘I’m OK preserving 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 bought. They haven’t received the Ashes for 11 years. You’re beginning to get to the stage the place, in the event you don’t win it in 2027, you in all probability received’t win subsequent time in Australia, after which it’s a very long time.
‘I believe they’ll beat New Zealand and Pakistan this summer season, after which everybody shall be wanting ahead to the Ashes the next 12 months. That’ll be the large testing level. In the event that they lose, then it’ll have been the incorrect alternative not do something now. In the event that they win, it’s nice.’
Would possibly Zaib develop into a part of the story? ‘I’ve instructed him his problem is to make extra a whole lot than he did final 12 months,’ says Lehmann. ‘When you try this, the selectors can’t ignore you.’
For the primary time shortly, it’s a sentence that may be uttered with conviction.
