Darren Lehmann’s son Jake in frame for Test selection after ton for South Australia

DARREN Lehmann may have to excuse himself from Australia’s Ashes selection meeting this week after his son Jake Lehmann put him in an awkward spot.

Jake Lehmann of South Australia raises his bat for his century during day 1 of the round 2 JLT Sheffield Shield cricket match between Victoria and South Australia in Melbourne, Saturday, November 4, 2017. (AAP Image/George Salpigtidis) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

DARREN Lehmann might have to excuse himself from a few selection meetings this week.

The son of the Australian coach, Jake Lehmann smashed a scintillating Shield century at the MCG to suddenly put his name forward as a potential bolter for the first Ashes Test.

Lehmann senior has said before that he makes a point of stepping out of the selection room whenever his son’s name is brought up. Those mentions have increased, and with six first-class centuries to his name at an average of 42 the time has come to consider him more seriously.

Jake Lehmann on his way to a century against Victoria.

With a distinct lack of No. 6 candidates standing up to be counted in the opening two Shield rounds so far, Lehmann sent a reminder of his talents with a rapid-pace 103 off 115 balls for South Australia against Victoria.

Left-handed and free-hitting, Lehmann is a chip off the old block — perhaps not as textbook as some of his rivals, but the scoreboard is showing he can make runs.

Jake Lehmann raises his bat after making triple figures.

Test great Steve Waugh backed Lehmann to call it straight if son Jake makes it onto the shortlist. “I can understand Darren’s position,” he said.

“It’s difficult to go in there and be unbiased, but I think people would respect that if he was in there he would give an honest assessment and that’s what I did in the Australian team when Mark was in the team.