The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Lehmann wants to make way for Clarke

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Lehmann wants to make way for Clarke

SYDNEY, OCT. 13. Darren Lehmann is contemplating sacrificing his spot in the Australian cricket line-up to ensure rookie Michael Clarke gets a place in the starting eleven.

Lehmann, who'll turn 35 in four months, has an average of 49.34 and is the acting vice-captain in the ongoing series in India while skipper Ricky Ponting is sidelined with an injured hand.

He said the 23-year-old Clarke, who scored 151 on his Test debut in the 217-run win over India at Bangalore last week, could be a future Australian captain and should be a regular in the national lineup for the next decade.

"I have always said I would not stand in the road of a young player," Lehmann told reporters after arriving in Chennai for the second Test. "It might be the case that I do stand down — I haven't ruled that out."

"I would think Michael Clarke, if I was a selector which I am not, should play every Test for the next 10 or 12 years. That would be my opinion."

Lehmann's comments appeared in newspapers across Australia on Wednesday, with editorial and opinion articles speculating on the personal cost to the left-handed batsman who has scored four hundreds and four half centuries in his last 15 Test innings.

Lehmann said he'd speak with Australian selectors after the second Test, starting Thursday. Ponting is expected to return for the third Test, creating a logjam for batting positions and selection dilemmas for the Australian lineup.

Clarke's maiden hundred had convinced Lehmann that the New South Wales youngster would live up to his potential at an international level — AP

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