Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann on his return to coaching
Ahead of his return to topline coaching with the Brisbane Heat, former Australian coach Darren Lehmann talks with Robert Craddock about the ball-tampering scandal, his approach to the game and AB de Villiers.
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Darren Lehmann will return to mainstream coaching this summer for the first time since quitting as Australian coach last year in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
New Brisbane Heat coach Lehmann talks about how the Heat landed the signature of the great South African AB de Villiers, how he hopes it will be the start of a long-running partnership and how he does not feel he has to change as a coach despite the bitter cultural fallout of South Africa.
When you were announced as Heat coach you said you would never coach at international level again. Is that still your feeling?
Yes. Definitely. I have actually enjoyed just watching cricket without the pressures of coaching. It’s great fun. I had five years at international level but I’ve been there and done that and now I am looking forward to just doing tournament play.
You had a tough finish to your international career with the ball tampering affair. Do you ever look back and think you could have done things differently?
That’s a tough question to answer. You just keep learning from your mistakes don’t you. You make sure you are having as much fun as you possibly can. Sometimes the fun goes out of the game a little bit when the pressure is coming from everywhere. That’s probably something I have learnt. Have as much fun as you can all the time.
The Heat’s successful pursuit of AB de Villiers was interesting because you just refused to take no for an answer. What was the key?
We had been in there for a while with him to replace Brendon McCullum. Then everyone decided they wanted a piece of him so the offers came in from everywhere. He then decided to take a step back. The big thing was he wanted to have Christmas at home. I contacted him and sent him an email and kept the dialogue open. We understood he wanted to have Christmas at home in Pretoria. He had been on the road for 15 years. We were not stressed by that at all.
So how did you handle it?
We just said “have Christmas at home and come out after New Years’’ and he said “yeah, I would love to.’’ Then we got in touch with his manager. We have known for about six or seven weeks so it has been the best kept secret really from you guys. We are really happy. He will come over and hopefully it will be the start of a long-term relationship.
Obviously de Villiers is a legend but is there anything you particularly admire about his batting style?
He is a 360 degree player and he reads the game so well. If you don’t get him early you are really in a bit of trouble if you are bowling to him. That is the challenge for other teams now. He manipulates the game so well.
You won a title with the Heat but generally they have under-achieved. Why?
Winning more game at home is one thing that stands out. They started to play better at home in the last few games last year so hopefully that continues on.
After the ball tampering affair the culture was questioned and so were your methods. Do you have to change?
You obviously evolve don’t you. We have to make sure we enjoy it and always have fun. We are always having fun anyway to be fair. People don’t know what is going on behind the scenes with the group. They are all good lads and I speak to them quite regularly to wish them all the best.
So you don’t feel you have to change?
I think it will be status quo mate. Play the game and enjoy it. Win, lose or draw entertain people. That has been the way it has always been. It is a game of entertainment for the fans.
How were your emotions during the Ashes because initially that was to be your sign-off series, wasn’t it? Was it difficult to watch in some ways?
No, not at all. I love watching great series. I thought Australia deserved to win 3-1 really. For me, it was a joy to watch. I loved every minute of it.
Last summer when you were commentating on radio I saw you a few times around the press area when I felt you looked quite sad as if you were struggling a bit. Was that the case?
Not at all. I loved it. I really enjoyed the cricket last summer.
From the view of one former Test batsman looking at another what do you make of the Steve Smith phenomena?
It is Bradmanesque isn’t it? He just loves batting. He has been like that for a long period of time and I think the year off has done him the world of good because there were things he wanted to work on and he got his body right. He has taken it too the next level.
As a coach does Smith’s performances change your thoughts about the coaching manuals because he is so different to the norm?
But I have always felt like that because you don’t change good players do you. You just let them play. You don’t over-coach. He is like Brian Lara in that you just understand they are different sorts of players.
Is there any particular technical quality Smith has that really interests you?
The way he keeps his head really still when the ball is delivered. He moves around a lot but not when the ball is being bowled. He is a superstar of the game.
England have a new coach in Chris Silverwood - did you play with him at Yorkshire?
He was a wild fast bowler. One of those guys with a strong upbringing who liked a beer and good time but was really serious about the game. He will do a really good job.
What about David Warner’s form slump in the Ashes?
Stuart Broad was very good though. He was the outstanding bowler in the Ashes. But Warner’s record in Australia in outstanding – he averages 58 – and I think he will have a great summer.
Why is there such a large gulf between Warner’s record at home and overseas?
He has played some good knocks in the subcontinent but has been to the Ashes three times and has not made a hundred. Maybe the new ball in England does not suit him as much as it does in other places around the world. The Dukes ball and the nibble it gets early does not help. There is a case for batting him down the order in England.
What does it mean to you to return to mainstream coaching after a year and a half out of it?
I’m really looking forward to getting back into it. Mentoring kids and helping them on the way and having a bit of fun doing it. Not having the pressures of 365 days a year. It will be nice to do tournament-style coaching.
The national selectors don’t seem to rate Joe Burns. Why is that? He does not seem to get the 50-50 decisions?
Not at the moment but that can change. He missed out going to England because they went horses for courses yet I think he could have made runs in England. Now he is back on even keel and has three Shield games before the Test team is chosen. If they go with David Warner I do like the left and right handed combination and that is in Burns’ favour.
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