New Australia coach Darren Lehmann would welcome ex-Hampshire captain Shane Warne into the Australia set-up.

Lehmann, who was yesterday unveiled as the successor to the sacked Micky Arthur, will take up the reins immediately and lead his side into an Ashes series against England.

Lehmann won the urn twice as a player with Warne and spent four years alongside him in the Victoria dressing room.

"We would love him [Warne] in the room. The past legends is what we are about," said Lehmann.

"Having guys involved in our current structure and having some sort of input. You don't have a guy take 700 Test wickets and not use him if he is around the place. He is always welcome as is anyone who has represented Australia in our dressing room. I will be after the past players to use their knowledge and guidance along the way.

"If he (Warne) is around, and I know he is commentating with Sky all the time, then we will certainly use him. I have had some great messages. They (past players) are an important part of what we are trying to create."

Victories have been hard to come by for the Australians recently with a 4-0 whitewash at the hands of India a major factor in Arthur's dismissal.

"We will get everything right on and off the field," said Lehmann. "It is important to talk about the game whether it be with a beer or a diet coke in your hand. I don't care. It is about learning the game and improving our skills on and off the field and that is what we are about.

"This journey over the next two months during the Ashes we will learn about ourselves as cricketers and people which is really important and performing at the level everyone would expect us to to back home. That is where that comes into it. Learning about where we can do things differently.

"Yes definitely we can still win the Ashes. The team is going to play in a certain way. We are going to play an aggressive brand of cricket that entertains people and fans and gets the job done on and off the field.

"I am excited by the challenge. I am looking forward to working with Michael [Clarke] closely and the other team members and look forward to them having success throughout this tour."

Australia captain Michael Clarke has insisted the team are only looking forward despite admitting his shock at Arthur's sacking.

"For us as a group, and now for Darren, it is important we look forward to what we have ahead of us and our focused on having success on this tour," he said.

"We need to stay focused on our performance and make sure we are performing much better than we have been on this tour and how we did on our last tour in India.

"Like everyone I was shocked at the time, I guess it was over the past 24 hours that I allowed it to sink in and for me to then keep my focus on what is important as a player."

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