Australia are shelving their controversial rotation policy for back-to-back Ashes campaigns that are in danger of falling into complete disarray barely two weeks prior to the opening Test against England. Described as informed player management by national selector John Inverarity,the policy designed to safeguard key players from burn-out has drawn heavy criticism from the media and a number of former internationals. Struggling for form and beset by disciplinary issues,rotating players is a luxury the team cannot afford and Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland confirmed that the strongest available side would be selected throughout the Ashes. .looking ahead to the Ashes series in England and next (southern hemisphere) summer in Australia,you wont see any of that rotation policy,as you call it,in the fashion that we have in the past, Sutherland said on ABC radio. Its about providing opportunities to players for a team thats in transition,so the selectors can give players opportunities at international level and see how they cope with that and respond. For well over a decade,the Australian selectors have adopted a policy of doing that,particularly with one-day cricket. Ive got no doubt that will continue but for Ashes Test matches,we will day-in,day-out be picking our best team. The decision is likely to be welcomed by newly appointed coach Darren Lehmann,who has been critical of the policy in the past. Australia sacked Mickey Arthur and replaced him with Lehmann on Monday,the South African paying the price for the teams string of poor performances including a 4-0 Test drubbing in India and the failure to win a single match in the Champions Trophy,where they were the defending champions. Compounding Arthurs problem was a number of individual disciplinary issues,including David Warners Twitter rant against journalists and the openers attack on England cricketer Joe Root in a bar after a Champions Trophy defeat. Australia play a four-day tour match against Somerset from Wednesday before the first Test of the five-match Ashes series starts at Trent Bridge,Nottingham on July 10. Confident of success Darren Lehmann insisted it was still possible for Australia to win the Ashes despite the upheaval that led to his appointment as the new head coach of the national side. Yes definitely,It is a challenge for all the playing group and everyone involved with Cricket Australia. We are going to play an aggressive brand of cricket that entertains people and fans and gets the job done on and off the field. I am excited by the challenge. Meanwhile Lehmann,asked if he was an old-school coach,said: Its important to talk about the game whether its with a beer or a Diet Coke,I dont care. Australia leg-spin great Shane Warne,now working as a television commentator,has been suggested as someone Lehmann could bring on board. We would love him in the room, said the 43-year-old Lehmann,who played 27 Tests. You dont have a guy take 700 Test wickets and not use him if he is around the place. If he is around,and I know he is commentating with Sky all the time,then we will certainly use him.
