Aussies won't panic on Ashes selections

Australian coach Darren Lehmann is giving little away about Shane Watson's place in the XI, saying he and Rod Marsh won't panic ahead of the second Test.

Australia head coach Darren Lehmann.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann is giving little away about Shane Watson's place in the XI. (AAP)

Coach Darren Lehmann has vowed not to panic as national selectors mull what to do with beleaguered Australian allrounder Shane Watson.

Watson was trapped lbw in both innings of the Ashes opener, increasing the pressure on the 34-year-old to keep his spot in the Australian Test side.

Younger allrounder Mitch Marsh, who clubbed eye-catching centuries in tour games against Kent and Essex, will come under serious consideration.

Lehmann suggested he and fellow selector Rod Marsh had yet to make a call regarding the second Test, which starts on Thursday at Lord's.

"We're not going to panic," said Lehmann on Monday night at a Hardys Wine event.

"What we're going to do is pick the best XI we think will win the Test match.

"If Shane is in that, he's in it.

"If he's not, he's not. That's just the way it is with professional sport."

Lehmann added Watson was working very hard to turn things around, having only passed 50 in two of his past 16 innings.

"He got two starts in the first Test and obviously got out lbw both times, but I thought he looked quite good," he said.

"It's going to be a tough call and we'll just have to make that call in the next day or two."

Watson continues to attract an unparalleled level of vitriol from Twitter users and widespread condemnation from many media outlets.

Lehmann believed his much-maligned charge was remaining positive.

"That's just part and parcel of what happens in today's sport and you've got to blank it out and concentrate and believe in what you're doing," he said.

"He's certainly doing that behind the scenes, so he's still the normal Shane Watson."

Watson received an unexpected source of support from Stuart Broad, the England seamer who trapped him lbw last Friday.

"Six is a tricky spot to bat. I'm sure he'll play (at Lord's). I don't have any doubts," Broad said.

"Shane Watson has given us a lot of trouble in the past.

"I'm pretty sure they will go unchanged if they don't have any injury problems."


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Source: AAP


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