Northamptonshire coach Darren Lehmann criticized England players for insufficient county cricket exposure, blaming selectors for overlooking domestic talent. Speaking after England's Ashes defeat, Lehmann noted he hadn't seen an English selector in his first year and praised ECB's new county links. He highlighted 27-year-old Saif Zaib, who scored 1,425 runs at 65 last season but missed the England Lions tour. ECB plans to improve county ties, with Lehmann urging selectors to prioritize domestic form. "They should play more county cricket," he said, though stressing it's not his decision.

The Ashes loss exposed preparation flaws, including a controversial Noosa break where players reportedly drank excessively. Lehmann dismissed overindulgence claims, calling England professionals capable of self-regulation. He expects England to win upcoming series against New Zealand and Pakistan, emphasizing adaptive strategies. "They'll score quickly, the wickets will be flat," he predicted, advocating balanced Test styles.