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Boof urges ex-players to get behind Australia

Darren Lehmann calls on public, pundits and players to rally around the Aussies ahead of first Ashes Test

Coach Darren Lehmann has urged past and present players to set aside any selection grievances and get behind Australia in the upcoming Magellan Ashes series.

Australia and England players have gathered in Brisbane ahead of the start of the first Test on Thursday, a few days after the hosts announced a squad that included several surprising choices.

The recall of wicketkeeper Tim Paine and the axing of opener Matthew Renshaw were two of the biggest decisions to come out of the shock announcement, leading spin great Shane Warne to claim the Aussies are "confused" heading into the summer.

With the fallout from the selection bombshell starting to dissipate, Lehmann called on all Australians to forget any gripes they may have against the selection panel and get behind the side's push to regain the Ashes urn.

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"Everyone is entitled to their opinion," Lehmann said 

"I'd just like all our players and ex-players to be really positive about the Australian cricket team, that'd be the way to go. I'm looking forward to everyone getting behind Australia in the contest that's about to unfold. 

"Let's just get everyone from Australia behind the Australian cricket team and let's get moving forward.

"Selection is over, now we get stuck in to the side getting prepared the best they can to play in what's going to be a bloody exciting series."

The selection of the squad for the first two Tests came after hopefuls were given three full rounds of the JLT Sheffield Shield to push their case, a rare occurrence in the non-stop modern cricketing schedule.

With Lehmann declaring heading into the season that both the No.6 and No.7 spots were up for grabs, media speculation about who would get the nod intensified in the lead-up to Friday's announcement.

But he says the selection panel were happy with how they picked the squad.

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"It was tough but we were very clear with the way we wanted to go," Lehmann said of the selection process.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinions. We made sure the three Shield games were really important so everyone got a good hit out and put their case forward before we selected the side."

One of the major decisions was axing Renshaw, who had impressed in his first year as a Test cricketer but whose Shield performances led to him being overlooked for in-form Western Australian Cameron Bancroft.

The left-hander had been given a working over by Australia's Test quicks in the nets last Wednesday under the eye of Lehmann and the coach backed the 21-year-old to return to the Test side in the future.

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"He's a very good young man," he said. "We did some work on him last week to try and get him back on track.

"He was unlucky to miss out, it was a tough call. Obviously Cameron Bancroft, with his runs knocked the door down.

"I'm sure he'll be back, he's a really good player. He's just in a bit of a slump at the moment but he'll get out of that."

The Australians will train together at The Gabba for the first time on Monday ahead of the first ball of the series on Thursday.

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21