Lehmann apologises for Ashes defeat

UNCAPPED TRIO FOR ODIS

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis, spinner Ashton Agar and batsman Joe Burns were called up by Australia for the limited overs series against England to be held after the fifth and final Ashes Test.Steve Smith will lead the side which will play a one-off One-Day International (ODI) against Ireland in Belfast on August 27 before taking on England in the sole T20 International match of the ongoing tour on August 31 in Cardiff. Squad: Steve Smith (c), Ashton Agar, George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Shane Watson, David Warner, Cameron Boyce (T20I only)

Haddin to return home

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has left the Ashes tour of England and is returning home.The 37-yearold, who was not expected to be selected for the fifth and final Test at the Oval after being replaced by Peter Nevill, is returning for personal reasons.

Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann took responsibility for the crushing Ashes defeat to England, saying, “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. On behalf of our team I want to apologise 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.“