Lehmann likely to rejoin Oz squad in New Zealand

Sydney : Australian coach Darren Lehmann, who was recently hospitalized with deep vein thrombosis, is likely to rejoin the national squad by the end of the ongoing three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

Earlier, Lehmann was not expected to travel to New Zealand until at least the end of the ODI series, but his present condition depicts that he is most likely to join the team for the third match.

The 45-year-old had reported a swollen left calf to the team medical staff in the fifth ODI of the recently- concluded series against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground and was also subsequently ruled of the three-match Twenty20 series.

In the absence of Lehmann, Australia’s batting coach, Michael Di Venuto was asked to look after the team.

Jubilant with the news, skipper Steve Smith said the entire team would be glad to have him back, adding that he hoped Lehmann would join the squad soon.

Australia have failed to win a single match in Lehmann’s absence, which include losing the fifth ODI to India in Sydney followed by 3-0 Twenty20 series defeat.

The Smith-led team also suffered a loss in the opening ODI against New Zealand.

“We’d love to have our coach here. There’s no doubt about that. He’s unwell at the moment obviously and he’ll be back soon enough. So we’ve got to move on, I don’t think today was him to blame. It was certainly the players. We didn’t adapt well enough and we were outplayed,” Smith was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Australia will play their second ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series at Wespac Trust Stadium in Wellington on Saturday. (ANI)