Limited-overs form will be considered before India tour: Lehmann

Melbourne [Australia], Sept 12 (ANI): While praising his side's performance in the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, Australia head coach Darren Lehmann has stated that players' exploits with the white-ball in the subcontinent will be taken into considered before the much-anticipated tour of India next year. Despite suffering a 3-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka in the preceding Test series, Australia made a strong comeback to win the five-match ODI and two-match T20I series respectively. Middle-order batsman George Bailey, destructive all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, leg-spinner Adam Zampa, wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade impressed with the white-ball despite being sidelined for the Test series. While Bailey bagged the player of the one-day series with a leading average of 67, Zampa bowled consistently well, finishing the five-match series with nine wickets. Maxwell, meanwhile, produced a sensational comeback with a career-best 145 not out in the first Twenty20 before backing up with a second player-of-the-match performance on Friday. Citing the example of Bailey, who earned a Test elevation in the 2013-14 Ashes series following a superb one-day series against India, Lehmann said selectors will take into account performance at international level, including white-ball formats. "The way (the limited-overs team has) played has been exceptional. That's all you can do - put your name up in lights (from) the way you play in the one-day format. All performances for Australia count and that's really important," Lehmann was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. Australia will play against South Africa in a three-match series and host Pakistan in many matches in December before touring India for a four-Test series. "We thought the side we selected for the Test series (in Sri Lanka) was right (based) on form and the previous matches we played," the coach said. "Obviously we didn't play as well as we would've liked (in the Tests) and some of the guys struggled with the conditions here and that's understandable, that happens sometimes. "Those one-day guys have come in and they've performed really well and that's impressive. "And that's all you can do when you're looking to another tour in February of India, for example, looking at the whole squad and what we take there. "We've got a pretty important home summer as well ... so we'll have a look at those over the next few weeks." (ANI)