Lehmann rules out calling in batting reinforcements from outside Ashes squad

Australian coach Darren Lehmann has reportedly ruled out calling up players from outside the Ashes squad to solve the batting problems currently plaguing the side, which risks matching the worst losing streak in the history of Australian cricket.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, there was speculation that that leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed could be summoned from Australia A duties, after taking eight wickets against a Zimbabwe XI, or that the woeful batting could be reinforced from outside the touring party.

However, Lehmann has dismissed the reports and ruled out drafting in batting reinforcements, and said that the selectors would not look outside the Ashes squad of 18 to solve the problems laid bare at Lord's, although the report said that controversial batsman David Warner is expected to return to England from Zimbabwe before the third Test.

Hinting that Matthew Wade, who will play the Sussex game, could be considered as a specialist batsman given that he and captain Michael Clarke are the only Australians to have scored Test centuries this year, Lehmann said that he is not ruling out anything as he needed to have every option open seeing that the team has had two losses in the series.

According to the report, there could be a change in the main spinner's position for the next Test at Old Trafford with Ashes debutant Ashton Agar being be rested from the tour match against Sussex with a sore hip, while Nathan Lyon, passed over for the first two Tests, will use the three-day game in Brighton to bowl for a place in the Test team.

The only Australian making mountains of first-class runs is Simon Katich, who has been eager to point out that he did not retire from international cricket but rather had his career terminated by Andrew Hilditch's selection panel in 2011, the report added.