Test newcomers did their part: Lehmann

Darren Lehmann has shrugged off suggestions that selectors have been vindicated by Australia's win in the first Magellan Ashes Test, while the national coach has welcomed the return to the bowling crease of Mitchell Marsh as their hunt for a Test allrounder continues.

Lehmann and his fellow selectors were heavily criticised 10 days ago when they named Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine and Cameron Bancroft in their XI for the first Test, critics who were silenced when the new trio performed solidly in Australia's 10-wicket victory in Brisbane.

While debutant Bancroft stole the headlines on Monday for his unbeaten 82 and entertaining media conference, it was perennial whipping boy Marsh who saved the Aussies from potential embarrassment with a fighting half-century in their first innings.

And despite spilling a tough chance on day one, Paine was impressive behind the stumps in his first Test since 2010.

But as his side headed to Adelaide for the second Test starting on Saturday, Lehmann shouldered arms when asked if the four-man panel felt a sense of vindication.

"You're always going to get criticised for selection and you can't worry about that," Lehmann said on Tuesday.

"I was pleased for Shaun, I thought his contribution ... was pretty important at 4 for 70, and I thought Paine did really well. He missed that catch behind the stumps, but I didn't notice him the whole Test match, which is a good sign.

"They all played their part, which was pleasing. Bancroft did a good job."

Australia will likely take an unchanged team into the second Test, with Lehmann re-iterating the comments of Mitchell Starc on Sunday that the left-armer, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins should all recover sufficiently in time to play this weekend. Pacemen Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers will again be with the squad in Adelaide this week, but seemingly only an unforeseen setback to one of the three main quicks will lead to a change.

But there remains an undercurrent of concern that the absence of a fifth bowler will eventually need to be addressed.

Of the current top six, only skipper Steve Smith is considered a genuine bowling option at international level, meaning Australia's four frontline bowlers risk being overworked if England's batsmen manage to survive for longer than they did in Brisbane.

"You'd always like one (an allrounder), at the moment some of the allrounders aren't knocking down the door like they should be," Lehmann said.

"If you look at the past ... you didn't have an allrounder, but you had Steve and Mark Waugh who took (150) Test wickets. So there's an allrounder in itself.

"They've always had one, Australia. They're just handy when you have that long second innings more so than not, and if you get an injury during the game. At the moment it's okay (without one), but you certainly look at it.

"It's certainly a bit different to the old days when everyone bowled a bit more, everyone could chuck down a few overs.

"Smithy bowled alright in the three overs he bowled (in Brisbane), so I think you'll see him bowl a bit more in Adelaide, so that covers that a little bit. But it's certainly changed a bit."

As Australia cruised to victory on Monday, the younger Marsh brother took a big step in his push to regain his Test spot by bowling in a first-class game for the first time since March.

The highly-rated 26-year-old sent down nine overs in Western Australia's JLT Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland, his return to the bowling crease coming after he underwent a shoulder operation earlier this year

Having also scored 141 in that match to push his first-class batting average for the season to 40 (he also averaged 169 in the JLT One-Day Cup last month), Marsh joined another Test discard, Victoria's Glenn Maxwell, in posting three figures over the weekend to remain in the selection frame.

After he'd been rushed to Brisbane as batting cover for the older Marsh brother last Wednesday, Maxwell responded by posting his maiden first-class double-century, a score of 278 against NSW in Sydney.

It came too late to save his spot for the start of this series, but was duly noted by Lehmann.

"(The message to Maxwell) was just 'go away and get hundreds' and he got 200!" Lehmann said.

"He did well ... there's a little bit of pressure off, I suppose, but you've still got to make them. So he did a great job getting 200.

"(And) Mitchell Marsh got a hundred, so that's good to see.

"We rate him highly and his output with the bat's been really impressive this summer.

"He's an option with another few allrounders if we go down that path, but it's good to see him back bowling."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

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

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

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

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

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

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

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

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

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

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

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21