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Australian cricket chiefs publicly apologize for Ashes debarcle

Xinhua, August 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two of Australian cricket's most senior figures, head coach Darren Lehmann and high performance manager Pat Howard, have on Wednesday accepted blame and publicly apologized for the horror Ashes Test series in England.

Lehmann told Cricket Australia's website that his squad's performances had been "poor" and steps were being taken to identify the shortcomings before the start of the fifth, dead rubber Test match which begins on August 20.

"We understand how disappointing the series has been, and I can reassure you we are doing our very best as a group to identify the areas in which we need to improve in order to ensure we get better as a team," he said on Wednesday.

Lehmann also apologized to the thousands of Australians that travelled to England to watch the matches as well as the "millions" of Australians that had stayed up late at home to watch the team's capitulation at both Trent Bridge and Edgbaston.

During the most recent Test - at Trent Bridge - Australia was bowled out for just 60 runs - almost unheard of in Test cricket - before being soundly beaten with two and a half days remaining in the match. The win for England secured the return on the coveted Ashes trophy to the United Kingdom.

"We have been poor, we have been outplayed by a superior opponent, and as coaching staff, players and selectors we fully accept the blame for our losses at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge," Lehmann said on Wednesday.

"On behalf of our team I want to apologize for the manner in which we have lost, especially to those tour groups and individual fans who paid to travel to the UK to watch us and to the millions more tuning in at home."

Meanwhile high performance manager Pat Howard put his hand up to accept his share of responsibility, saying his push for an older, "Dad's Army" team and overworking vital pace bowler Ryan Harris into retirement before the series started was his own fault.

"I need to be reviewed and I have absolutely no problem with that," Howard told The Courier Mail on Wednesday.

"Clearly I have got to take leadership over this. We lost and someone is accountable and ultimately I am accountable.

"The first person I want people looking for is me rather than anyone else. We will do an internal review first and see where that gets to."

Coach Lehmann accepted the criticism levelled at his squad for the poor performances, however stepped in to defend potshots being taken at individual player, namely captain Michael Clarke who chose to announce his retirement last week.

"We have to accept negative criticism from the media because we've had so much positive coverage during our success over the past two years," Lehmann said.

"But one thing I strongly disagree with is the criticism that's been levelled about players and support staff having their partners and families with them during this tour."

He said the future of Australia' s national team was bright, and asked supporters to stick by the squad as the tour of England continues later this month.

"I maintain great confidence in the future of Australian cricket, in the crop of young players we've got coming through and in the players that are here on this tour," he said.

The Ashes Test series concludes in London from August 20, before a five-match One Day series against England commences in September. Endi