Lehmann offers no excuses

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http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/61860/lehmann-offers-no-excuses Despite yet another batting debacle that cost Australia the second Test, mirroring that of the collapse that cost them the Durham Test in the winter Ashes against England, coach Darren Lehmann has claimed that the 2nd innings meltdown was not as bad when compared to the one that lost them the Ashes series. "In Durham we played some bad shots to lose those wickets. The disappointing thing was our first innings runs (in Port Elizabeth), we harp on it all the time but we have to get better in the first innings. "I wasn't pleased to be bowled out, in the manner we got out we got bowled out, in Durham we played some poor shots but they (South Africa) were too good for us", he said. Australia collapsed from 141/1 at tea to be bundled out for 216 all-out with Dale Steyn leading the charge with impressive figures of 4/55. Opener Chris Rogers made a battling hundred, but his dismissal, run-out after a fine 107, ended any hopes of stretching play into the final day. Lehmann conceded that the South African bowlers were far too superior for the Australian batsmen. "They bowled very well and we didn't cope with it well enough so we have to improve in that area, but with their high class bowling attack full credit to them," Lehmann said. On a slow and low wicket, the South African pacers managed to hurt the opponents with high class reverse swing bowling, something that their Aussie counterparts failed to procure. The Australian coach though was sympathetic towards his bowling line-up. "We bowled on day one when the pitch was not as course and day three when our bowlers were cooked because we only batted for two sessions," Lehmann said. "I knew it would go reverse day four and day five and we didn't get to day five. Its not an issue. The time we batted first we got the ball going reverse. That's just the way the game goes," he added. Saying that Australia needed the all-round abilities of Shane Watson, Lehmann also dropped hints of James Pattinson playing in the next Test match at Cape Town. "We'll have a look at it, velocity's a big thing for us, Lehmann said. You certainly need pace, we've seen that with Johnson, Harris and Siddle when he's up and running. We'll have a look at that over the next few days, we'll see how they pull up."

[FischerTal]

PattoTheLegend coming back

[Deleted_User_1]

Unlike our Dhobi....always giving excuses and unwilling to accept the reality that Feck De India stinks!!!

[Robelinda]

How refreshing is it to watch Lehmann's press conferences, always honest, doesnt seem like he is playing games, just tells it how it is, doesnt blame anyone or complain about the rules or conditions.

[putrevus]

when losses start to pile up all his refreshing,open and honest views will make way for excuses, injuries weather etc.

[IKnowU]

when losses start to pile up all his refreshing' date='open and honest views will make way for excuses, injuries weather etc.[/quote'] :two_thumbs_up: pretty much. It's easy to admit defeat and errors when you have been dominating for half a year and lose one game.

[zep1706]

And our captain cool comes out and say we played very well after losing 10 overseas test matches. :haha: