Lehmann backs England to rebound after tough Ashes

Former Australia cricketer and Northamptonshire head coach Darren Lehmann believes England are well-placed to respond strongly in the upcoming home Test season, despite a disappointing Ashes campaign.

With series against New Zealand and Pakistan on the horizon, crucial to their ICC World Test Championship campaign, Lehmann expects England to return to their attacking best.

“They'll play exciting cricket. They'll score quickly. The wickets will be flat. They'll oscillate between the two styles,” Lehmann said, speaking to BBC Look East.

“They played too aggressive in Australia. The problem is when the wicket does anything.

"They'll rethink how they want to play in different stages, making sure they're prepared as best they can,” he added.

However, Lehmann was critical of England’s preparation leading into the Ashes, highlighting the lack of red-ball cricket as a key concern behind their struggles in Australia.

“If they had played those first two Shield games before the first two Tests, then played the two Tests on the bounce, they actually needed a week off,” he commented.

“It's more about the preparation for the Ashes where they didn't play any county cricket in the back end of the summer and then they played a one-day series before the Ashes where they could have played an extra first-class game and that's probably where it's gone wrong.”

Lehmann stressed that greater clarity and discipline in planning would be essential moving forward.

“They just need to be a bit more diligent in their preparation and what they're trying to do and how they want to play,” Lehmann expressed.

England begin the Test summer against New Zealand from 4 June followed by a series with Pakistan in August and September.