Darren Lehman confirmed as new coach of the Brisbane Heat

Darren Lehmann was a shattered man after resigning in tears as Australian cricket coach in the wake of the Cape Town ball-tampering affair. But now he is back in the saddle after winning a fascinating shootout with three men he knows so well.

Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann is heading back to the dressing room to relaunch his career with the Brisbane Heat.

The Big Bash job will be Lehmann’s first coaching appointment since he resigned from the Australian post in tears after the ball tampering scandal in South Africa last year.

In an agonisingly close verdict, Lehmann has pipped Queensland Bulls coach Wade Seccombe in a field which also included former Heat batsman Brendon McCullum and international all-rounder James Hopes.

The three-man panel who appointed Lehmann after marathon discussions and an exhaustive interview process are aware their decision will attract criticism from supporters who laid some blame for Australia’s severely criticized recent culture at Lehmann’s feet.

But there is a feeling Lehmann will return to the coaching ranks a wiser, fresher man following an off-season away from the dressing room when he did commentary for Fox Cricket and Macquarie Sports Radio.

Lehmann has claimed he had no idea David Warner and Cameron Bancroft planned to use sandpaper in the Cape Town Test.

Darren Lehmann speaks to the press as he announces his resignation as Australian cricket coachin March, 2018. Picture: AFP PHOTO / WIKUS DE WET

Lehmann was initially devastated by the Cape Town drama but told fellow commentators his media stint helped restore his passion for the game.

Brisbane-based with no plans to move, Lehmann has strong links with the franchise, having coached the Heat to their only title.

The desire to have the much-admired Queensland Bulls coach Seccombe handle both teams was strong and he was the early favourite for the job.

As much as the continuity of having one coach do both jobs was considered a factor in Seccombe’s favour given the majority of the Heat squad play for the Bulls, the thought of having all Heat players starting on fresh, equal footing with Lehmann was also appealing.

Queensland Cricket officials, while acknowledging the benefits of having one coach for the Big Bash and Sheffield Shield teams, have always liked the idea of giving the Heat a different vibe to the Bulls.

Darren Lehmann and Heat star Chris Lynn will be able to spend a lot more time together after this appointment. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images

The Heat’s success rate with international recruits has also been patchy and Lehmann’s vast international contact network will be used to sort out this soft spot.

Heat officials are hoping Lehmann, particularly after his recent stint in the media, will have a stronger off-field presence than Vettori who had a low profile during his stint in Brisbane.

It is the second time Seccombe has missed out on the Heat job in a photo finish for he was narrowly pipped by Stuart Law, the former Queensland Shield winning skipper who is now guiding Middlesex in England.