Michael Clarke defends absence as Ashes loom Leadership questioned: Michael Clarke has defended his absences from the team. Taunton: Australian captain Michael Clarke has defended his absence from the team at a time when off-field leadership was desperately needed, as new coach Darren Lehmann wiped clean the slate in the hope of a trouble-free Ashes campaign. The off-field aspects of Clarke's captaincy have come under fire in the wake of Mickey Arthur's sacking, and he admitted the need to spend more time with his players was behind the decision to stand down as a selector. In particular, Clarke has been criticised for leaving the team during Australia's ill-fated Champions Trophy to have treatment on his back in London. When a bunch of players, including a punchy David Warner, decided it was a good idea to go drinking at the Walkabout in Birmingham after a defeat to England, he wasn't around to suggest otherwise. You're about to play England 10 times. For God's sake, he had to be at that game, surely," former Australian captain Ian Chappell said on 3AW. He's a terrific tactician, I think he's a terrific captain - but that's the on-field part. I have serious queries after the last few months about his leadership ability, which is the off-field part of it. Clarke said if he hadn't gone to London to use a special rehabilitation machine after re-injuring his back he would have risked his hopes of being fit for the Ashes. "I did everything in my power to stay with the team even though I wasn't playing but unfortunately to give myself a chance to be right for the Ashes I had to go to London and use the machine and have specialist treatment," he said. It was tough watching the games on TV and talking to the boys on the phone. I would have loved to have been with the group even if I couldn't play. Clarke is indispensable as a batsman, with 2533 runs at 68.46 since taking over from Ricky Ponting as captain, and a bold, unselfish on-field strategist. But in his two years at the helm he hasn't brought the team together, and without his selection powers he will have a diminished role. Lehmann, who will retain Arthur's selection vote, addressed the players as coach for the first time at the team hotel in Taunton on Monday night. He gave the first insights into the culture he wants. The enjoyment factor, we'll get that going for a start. When you start winning games you have a lot of fun so we need to start winning some games, simple as that," Lehmann said. It's about life as well, it's a game of cricket. It's important we have success and play well but it's a small part of your life, so we've got to make sure we are helping them grow their lives on and off the ground, that is really important to me. Family is a big part of it, enjoying each other's company while we're away, and learning about ourselves and different cultures and different people we have in the team. It's about getting all the lads and everyone in a direction we want to go. We're going one way and that is forward and everything starts afresh today.