InMobi

Lehamnn expects unchanged XI

Coach confident Harris will be fit for Boxing Day

Australia coach Darren Lehmann expects to name an unchanged side for the Boxing Day Test and says he doesn't want the players getting carried away with talk of a five-nil series whitewash.

The Australian players gathered in Melbourne today after taking a few days off following their victory celebrations in Perth and Lehmann admitted his task was to ensure the players focus on the fourth Test rather than the inevitable celebrations in Sydney.

"I'll probably have to remind them a little bit but the players are switched on, as is everyone involved," Lehmann said. "We know we've got a long way to go to get to where we want to as a cricket side and we'll have no problems getting up for this game.

"The message (I'll give the team) is that we want to win the first session on the first day and worry about it from there. We live in the present and you can't look too far ahead. 

"At the moment we are playing some good cricket but we certainly have some improvement to do."

Doug Bollinger and Nathan Coulter-Nile remain in the camp alongside twelfth man James Faulkner as cover for the fast bowlers but Lehmann expects Ryan Harris will once more form a formidable pace attack alongside Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson.

"(All of the bowlers) pulled up well," said Lehmann. We'll find out this afternoon, but I've had no phone calls so that's a good sign."

"Hopefully, fingers crossed," said Lehmann, when asked if he would name an unchanged side. "I don't know the last time Australia was unchanged for four Test matches in a row.

"(Preparations are) all smooth so far, touch wood, we all come in today and start training tomorrow. It's a big Test match, packed house and will be exciting for everyone involved."

While Lehmann has been lauded for a coaching style that has fused fun with hard work, his England counterpart Andy Flower has come under fire in the wake of three heavy losses, with some commentators questioning his ability to rebuild a side that has already lost two senior players this summer.

Lehmann maintains Flower is capable of turning England's fortunes around.

"Very much so," Lehmann said. "His record is exceptional. He's got a chance to do that now and, look, they've only lost one series. So they can certainly come back and play a better brand of cricket and we know that.

"(Flower) is a very good coach. I played a lot of cricket with Andy and he's got a great record so it (criticism) is probably unwarranted I would think."

"It happens, when you're not winning," said Lehmann. "As a head coach I know you've got to keep winning. We're both old enough to realise that. 

"In terms of form, Australia hopefully are on the way up, and we've certainly showed some good signs. But we've got a lot of work to do and England, you know, they'll have to reinvigorate themselves and I'm sure they'll do that. 

"We've played really well and won the key moments. We lost them in England but we've won them over here. But we've got to keep winning them day in, day out. England have had their opportunities and we've certainly got to improve in our first innings batting."

This will be the first time Lehmann has experienced a Boxing Day Test from the coach's box and he says he's looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere.

"It's great, he said. "As a player I played a couple, but I had too many turkeys! I didn't make any runs on Boxing Day. It's a great feeling and the crowd are great and they have been the whole summer. 

"So I'm looking forward to that first ball being bowled, it will be really loud, it will be like an AFL Grand Final."