Cricket news 2024: Former Australian coach eyes off English coaching role

Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann could be set to make a quick return to coaching after leaving his role with the Brisbane Heat to join the media, with a position in England in his sights.

Daniel Cherny

@danielcherny

2 min read

October 21, 2024 - 5:00AM

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Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann has been in talks with Northamptonshire about filling the English county’s coach vacancy.

Northants has been on the hunt for a new coach after sacking John Sadler last month.

The club was relegated to division two last year and was winless in 2024 before the move was made.

Lehmann, 54, last month quit his position as an assistant coach with the Big Bash League’s Brisbane Heat to take up a job with ABC Radio as an expert commentator for the summer of cricket.

However, it’s understood he is still interested in coaching and has had dialogue with the county club.

The dual World Cup winner and 27-Test batter with Australia was also an unsuccessful candidate for the BBL coach roles at the Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers filled by Cameron White and Tim Paine respectively.

Lehmann coached the Australian men’s team between 2013 and 2018, a period that included a World Cup win in 2015 and two home Ashes series victories before he resigned in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in early 2018.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 29: Darren Lehmann, coach of Australia, and Brad Haddin of Australia celebrate with the trophy during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup final match between Australia and New Zealand at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 29, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

He then took over as coach of the Heat in 2019 before he stepped down to become an assistant in 2021. He was part of the coaching panel that helped steer the side to a breakthrough title this year.

Lehmann told the ABC last month that he wasn’t necessarily done with coaching.

“I just want to get away and actually enjoy the game of cricket,” Lehmann said. “And it might be little franchise things during the winter and overseas.

Darren Lehmann was with Brisbane Heat in the BBL. Picture: AAP Image

“That might be more of the spark, I suppose, to just keep your toes in the water as such.

“So that certainly helps with the commentary side of it as well, so I only see as a bonus if I do bits and pieces overseas here and there.

“I coached the Australian cricket team for five years and, to be fair, I think it was a year too long.

Could Darren Lehmann be coaching Chris Lynn again at the Northamptonshire Steelbacks? Picture: Getty Images

“Looking back now, I was worn out, washed out, done. Three hundred days away a year.

“It’s too much. It’s too much for one coach to handle. I think you can only do a four-year cycle tops and that’s all it should be.

“State roles are a little bit different as such but it certainly is a young man’s game, travelling, the demands of coaching.”

Northants is one of just three county clubs to have never won the County Championship.

“Throughout his tenure at Wantage Road, [he] has led the club with professionalism, dedication and a strong work ethic … and has been a much valued member of the Northamptonshire team,“ a club statement said at the time of Sadler’s departure.

“Everyone at the club wishes him well in his future career.”