Only time will tell whether Cricket Australia have moved swiftly enough to save their Ashes ship from sinking, but Darren Lehmann’s appointment as coach ensured the underdogs fired the important opening shot of the series.
Rather than cower in a corner, covering up their internal problems and waiting for England quick James Anderson to charge in to deliver the first ball at Trent Bridge, CA have done exactly what the old enemy wouldn’t want them to do.
If Lehmann’s record and reputation in cricket didn’t worry England enough, his promise to play aggressively, call on input from Australian legends like Shane Warne and bring a “win, win and win” mantra may have unnerved a few in Alastair Cook’s camp.
Lehmann is from the old school. Back from the days when Australia bullied England.
“For the 1st time in Months I’m worried about Australia,” tweeted former England captain Michael Vaughan.
Lehmann, 43, didn’t mince words in his opening address to the media on Monday and was even more blunt when he gathered his players for the first time in the early evening in Taunton.
“We’re about winning cricket games. That’s as simple as it got,” said vice-captain Brad Haddin of Lehmann’s message in the meeting.
“Basically it’s a new start. A new coach has come in. We’ve all got to start afresh and move forward. As a group we’re pretty clear on what we want to do.”
In the days following David Warner’s suspension, the tension at Australia’s training sessions was so thick you could cut it.
But despite the shock of Arthur’s sacking, it was clear on Monday from the buoyant body language of players, that Lehmann’s arrival had given Australia the spring in the step they so badly needed.
Lehmann might be confident that ongoing internal issues within the ranks will now cease to exist under his watch.
But fixing deeply rooted problems like Australia’s batting woes appears the more relevant short-term challenge.
Haddin has played under Lehmann for Australia A over recent weeks and said the experience and personality of the former Test batsman would at least give the struggling order a shot at a quick fix.
“I hope so … All of us as a batting unit obviously have areas we need to improve in our game, and I’m pretty confident we’ll go in the right direction over the next two weeks,” Haddin said.
“The bottom line is we’ve got to perform and I’m comfortable with where this group’s at.
“Darren’s got experience at all levels, as a player, a successful coach and a good person.
“I think he’ll come into this environment comfortable with where he wants to take the team.”
Arthur’s demise, two weeks out from the Ashes, shows just how deep the team’s cultural crisis had run.
However, by deciding they weren’t going to die wondering, CA have at least given Michael Clarke’s men a way forward beginning with Wednesday’s start to the opening tour match against Somerset in Taunton.
Haddin said players would be desperate for a chance to impress the new coach.
“This is the first day of an Ashes campaign. Everyone in the changeroom, we all want to play,” he said.
Possible Australian team v Somerset: Chris Rogers, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon
