Jake Lehmann favorite to fill in the No. 6 spot for Australia in the upcoming Ashes

After being dominated by a ferocious Indian side in the recently concluded bilateral series, Australia will be hoping for a turnaround in their fortunes when they take on England in the upcoming Ashes. While a majority of the team looks set and well prepped up, the Aussie team management is yet to decide on a No. 6 batsman. For long, they have been devoid of an able and in-form batsman for the spot and with the Ashes closing in, a number of potential contenders have popped up to fill in the void.

Of them, a conflict of interest protocol established at a Cricket Australia management meeting and agreed by the board two years ago surfaced recently. And now, the protocol is set to be called into action after Australian coach Darren Lehmann’s son, Jake Lehmann announced himself as a genuine Ashes contender. The 24-year-old has surged into calculations to make a Test debut at the Gabba on November 23 for an Australian team that is crying out for a No. 6 batsman in form.

Cartwright, Lehman amongst favourites

However, Jake’s father who is also one of four national selectors, will not be able to sit in on it. Soon after Jake made his first-class debut in 2015 CA management raised the subject of how it would handle the situation, if it ever came up, of him figuring in Australian calculations. The result was a determination, run past the CA board, that Lehmann would excuse himself from any discussion about his son at the national selection table if he was in contention for a call-up.

Western Australia’s Hilton Cartwright has been dubbed as the strong favourite to be the Australian No. 6 in Brisbane, while Peter Nevill has his head in front to be the test wicketkeeper. However, 25-year-old Lehmann’s efforts in Melbourne will likely see him added to the middle order shortlist at the very least. Averaging 41.6 before South Australia’s match against Victoria, the left-hander followed it up with a first-innings century at the MCG with 93 on Monday.