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Darren Lehmann says Australia's bowlers must improve

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Darren Lehmann admits they’ll have to bowl better in the first Test against England.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann admits his bowlers have work to do despite the tourists thumping Kent by 255 runs at Canterbury.

The hosts, chasing a nominal 550 to win on the final day, were dismissed for 294 in the final session. Kent’s young opener Daniel Bell-Drummond stroked a thrilling 127 off 112 balls and tail-ender Mitch Claydon clumped 53 off 27 balls to ensure Kent finished the game with heads held high.

Mitchell Johnson, the man who terrorised England in the last Ashes series in Australia, took just one second innings wicket – No 9 Adam Riley. The leg-spinners Fawad Ahmed and Steve Smith took five between them, but were expensive, both going for over eight an over.

Australia's Mitchell Johnson celebrates after bowling out Ben Harmison of Kent
Image: Australia's Mitchell Johnson celebrates after taking his wicket

Lehmann told Sky Sports News HQ: “I think we can bowl better than that to be perfectly honest. We were a little bit rusty today. They know that. But they got the job done. We only bowled 50-odd overs today.

“We seem to have managed to find a way to get wickets which is a great sign for a cricket side. We’ve got to take 20 wickets to win cricket games and we did that again.”

Ryan Harris may be a concern for Lehmann. The 35-year-old has suffered 15 months of persistent knee injuries, and has played very little cricket in the last six months.

His match figures in Canterbury were 3-110, and Lehmann confirmed Harris will be given another run-out in the second – and final – warm-up game with Essex this week before they settle on the starting XI to face England in the first Ashes Test at Cardiff on 8 July.

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Australia's Ryan Harris bowls during day two of the tour match between Kent and Australia
Image: Australia's Ryan Harris bowls during day two of the tour match between Kent and Australia

“He got selected on the tour to play. We will have to wait and see what the final make-up of the side will be for Cardiff,” said Lehmann. “I was pleased for him to get through the game. We’ll see how he pulls up and make a decision about the tour game from there.

“The spinners went for a few today. But look – you are always going to have to find part-time wickets from somewhere. Smith and Michael Clarke can bowl and that’s important for us.”

Lehmann has named his team for Essex, which starts on Wednesday - David Warner, Chris Rogers, Michael Clark, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon.

And he says he has the majority of his team for Cardiff in mind.

"We know the rough line-up we want to go with, how that shapes up will still depend a bit on performance," he said.

The line-up for Chelmsford potentially offers one clue as to Lehmann's thinking at the top of the order. Chris Rogers is given another run-out, but Shaun Marsh, who deputised for him in the two recent Tests in the Caribbean, will not play. The two are effectively in competition to be David Warner's opening partner in Cardiff, and Rogers now looks favourite.

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