Australia coach Lehmann hits back at Warne over selection criticism

Australia coach Darren Lehmann slammed legendary spinner Shane Warne for spouting uninformed opinions about the team's selection issues.

Warne claimed while commentating during the fifth Ashes Test that Cricket Australia chairman of selectors Rod Marsh had overruled Lehmann and skipper Michael Clarke on the selection of pacer Pat Cummins for the fifth Test against England at The Oval cricket ground.

The spin king alleged Marsh "flexed his muscles" as selection boss and picked pacer Peter Siddle instead.

Australia won the fifth Test but lost the five-match series 2-3.

Warne blasted a policy that results in the Australian captain not getting the team he wants, argued that the skipper and not the coach should be a selector, and demanded Marsh be held "accountable" for the disaster of this Ashes series.

"Someone like Shane Warne always has his opinion because he loves an opinion full stop," Lehmann was quoted as saying by news.com.au on Sunday.

"And that's fine, but he doesn't know what goes on behind the scenes and we'll keep it at that and I'll probably stop there. In my time I can't remember the captain not getting the side he wants. Maybe once or twice, and that's whether I was playing, a state captain, coach," he said.

Lehmann further added, "I think the captain has a really important part to play and he's got to be really comfortable with the side he plays with. It's our job to pick that final XI, but you always consult the captain, that's important."