Punter and coach want Boof back

[Donny]

Coach, Ponting want Boof

By Robert Craddock - Fox


GRIEF-STRICKEN Darren Lehmann will gain the influential support of new Australian captain Ricky Ponting and coach John Buchanan when his international future goes on the line next month.

Cricket has been shunted into the background of Lehmann's life since the death of boyhood idol David Hookes in Melbourne last week with his pain accentuated because he was with Hookes when he died outside a St Kilda hotel.

Lehmann yesterday had the emotional task of being in Hookes' funeral cortege, carrying Hookes' famous Gray-Nichols bat, and must now attempt to refocus on cricket and reactivate his international career on next month's tour of Sri Lanka.

Though his one-day future may be threatened by the emergence of Michael Clarke, it appears Lehmann, who has just returned from an achilles tendon injury that sidelined him for three months, will at least be chosen in the Sri Lankan Test squad, leaving Clarke and Martin Love to jostle for the last batting spot.

Buchanan does not have a vote on the selection of the squad but he clearly would be delighted if Lehmann was chosen to tour Sri Lanka for five one-day games and three Tests which will feature separately chosen squads.

"Love to (have Lehmann selected) and I know Ricky Ponting is exactly the same," Buchanan said.

"He is a proven player of spin and is a good general in the side. He has been very much part of the one-day make-up and with Ricky taking over the Test side I am sure he would love to have him there for both.

"Ultimately still it is the selectors who will get the names together and if he is fit enough I am sure his name will go into the melting pot with everyone else.

"He has played a hell of a lot of cricket and has a very good cricket brain. One of the hard things about cricket because it goes so long – the captain, no matter how good he is, cannot remember all of the plans all of the time.

"It's good to have other people around who have great experience."

Lehmann was a key figure in Australia's defence of the World Cup in South Africa in March where his experience, leadership skills and ability to relax off the field helped Australia stay cool during a pressurised campaign.

Lehmann's friends say Hookes' death has taken a heavy toll on him but Buchanan senses his emotional state is improving.

"He had natural emotional swings. I asked him today how he was getting through and he said he was going OK," Buchanan said. "The biggest thing will be getting back and playing for South Australia and not to carry any responsibility to be the modern-day David Hookes for South Australia. He just needs to be Darren Lehmann and I think he will be.

The Australian side yesterday attended Hookes' funeral in Adelaide before heading to Melbourne where they will play Zimbabwe tomorrow in a match of no consequence.

[commonwombat]

Hhhmmm, some high profile backing but I do think that Boof's return to the side would be a retrograde step.

Boof has been and remains a fine player but his future is limited and he has NOT been an assured selection.

Katich has done enough to warrant further time in the Test side and Love, Clarke and Mike Hussey would be preferable for options for the Waugh spot in the Test team.