Test transition no problem: Lehmann

Darren Lehmann expects a seamless transition period for the new-look Australian Test team heading into the international summer of cricket.

The team will enter the season under new full-time leaders in captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner, and without recent retirees Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson.

Despite the wealth of experience that has left the side, Lehmann is confident the young players coming through will be ready for the challenge that this summer presents with Test series against New Zealand and West Indies.

"It will be pretty easy, I think they’re all good kids," Lehmann said of the transition process.

"We don’t have too many bad blokes in our group.

"They know how we want to play and how we want to behave and act.

"We want to make sure we’re entertaining people the whole time and we’ve been very good at that over the past 12 months."

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Bancroft is a new face in the Aussie squad // Getty Images 

While the start of Australia’s red-ball training camp in Sydney was ruined by rain on Tuesday morning, Lehmann welcomed the opportunity to spend more time with squad newcomers such as Cameron Bancroft and Andrew Fekete, both of whom the coach had only met once before.

"I don’t know him well enough yet to be perfectly honest," Lehmann said of Bancroft, the player many see as the likely candidate to open the batting with Warner in Test cricket.

"I’m looking forward to spending some time with him if he gets selected.

"They reckon he’s a ripper kid and Justin Langer speaks highly of him.

"His thirst for the game is second to none and he trains the house down, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes about it.

"That’s the exciting thing for the selection panel. They get to see these guys more than we do when we’re playing or touring.

"It’s good to see the young guys come in and see what we’re about.

"This is chance to see how they play and how they face Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc." 

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Smith is raring to go says deputy David Warner // Getty Images

Warner has seen the next tier of players up close over the past week in his role as Wide World of Sports commentator for the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup and has been impressed with the talent on display.

The Test opener is relishing the prospect of working alongside Smith in his new leadership role, should Warner win his race to be fit as he recovers from a broken left thumb.

"I’m excited for Steve to lead this new era of players," Warner said in the rain at Hurstville Oval.

"There is a lack of experience there, but we have confidence in Steve leading this team forward.

"Last year he had a taste of it and scored lots of runs. He said he wants to lead by example and that’s scoring runs for Australia as captain."

While the new-look Australian side may be light on Test experience, Warner believes there’s still a healthy mix to ensure the younger players are guided through the early stages of their career.

"You've still got Adam Voges who was selected on the Bangladesh tour, he's played a lot of first class games," Warner said.

"He might not have played many Tests but he still has a lot of experience.

"Guys like him, Mitchell Starc, myself, Steve Smith, Peter Nevill are experienced in Shield cricket as well.

"A lot of the guys that are going to be picked aren’t too experienced, but there are a lot of guys who will help them along the way."

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He's back! Well, not quite yet // Getty Images