Darren Lehmann quits as Australian cricket coach

Cricket Australia is set to consider a revolutionary revamp of its coaching model as Darren Lehmann announces he is to quit.

UPDATE: It may take two coaches to fill the void left by Darren Lehmann, with Cricket Australia (CA) set to strongly consider the merits of a revolutionary revamp.

A tearful Lehmann announced last night that watching Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft front the media prompted him to quit as Australian Test coach.

He revealed that his family had received a torrent of abuse and that he had not slept since sand-gate broke on Saturday.

Lehmann will lead Australia into tonight’s fourth and final Test against South Africa at The Wanderers before stepping aside, declaring that it was his call.

“This will be my last Test as head coach of the Australian cricket team as I’m stepping down,’’ Lehmann said.

The team’s next assignment is an ODI series in England that starts on June 13. CA will conduct a wideranging review of team conduct and culture before starting the search for Lehmann’s successor, with former Test opener Justin Langer the clear favourite.

However, there could be more than one replacement.

Lehmann has previously proposed a coaching model in which somebody takes charge of Australia’s Test squad, while another mentor is responsible for the ODI and Twenty20 teams.

Many influential figures at CA believe the idea has a lot going for it; Ricky Ponting had already been sounded out as a specialist T20 coach. Whether Ponting could be convinced to also take on the 50-over responsibilities is unclear at this stage.

Announcing his resignation last night, Lehmann said: “After seeing events in the media today with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, the feeling is that Australian cricket needs to move forward, and this is the right thing to do

“I really felt for Steve as I saw him crying in front of the media, and all the players are really hurting.

“As I stated before, I had no prior knowledge of the incident and don’t condone what happened at all. But good people can make mistakes.

“My family and I have copped a lot of abuse over the last week and it’s taken its toll on them.

The emotion was raw when Lehmann announced his resignation. pic.twitter.com/ekeR1WUC1C

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 29, 2018

Absolutely shattering watching these press conferences. Not hard to tell what type of people these guys are. Cricket Aus losing some great people through one poor choice. #human #forgive

— Michael Di Venuto (@MjDiVa5) March 29, 2018

“I’m ultimately responsible for the culture of the team and I’ve been thinking about my position for a while, despite telling media yesterday that I’m not resigning, after viewing Steve and Cameron’s hurting, it’s only fair that I make this decision.

“This will allow Cricket Australia to implement changes to enable the team to regain the trust of the Australian public.”

Interim captain Tim Paine was due to front the press conference, before Lehmann turned up instead to read a prepared statement before fielding questions.

He fronted for barely five minutes before going to take charge of his final training session as Test coach, admitting telling the players was gut-wrenching.

“Telling the players saying goodbye, it’s the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do,’’ he said.

“You think you can keep going, but the amount of abuse or whatever word you want to use, takes its toll. Speaking to my family, they’ve had enough. That’s also a reason, the main reason really. Maybe go and watch my son play cricket, which would be quite nice.

“It’s been unbelievable (he said when asked if the backlash was excessive). Watching those two young men face the media, I’m sure David (Warner) will be the same (when he fronts the press).”

Cricket NSW announced today that Warner would hold a media conference tomorrow morning.

He arrived home in Sydney last night, breaking his silence with an apology via social media before promising to talk more in coming days.

Comforted by his wife Candice and intent on getting his two young daughters to bed, Warner stopped briefly to talk to journalists upon his near-midnight airport arrival.

“As you can understand, it’s been a tough and an emotional time for my wife and the kids,” Warner said when asked if he’d heard about Lehmann.

“At this present time, you’ll hear from me in a couple of days.

“At the moment, my priority is to get these kids in bed and rest up and let my mind be clear so I can think and talk to you in a couple of days.”

Earlier he issued a statement on social media while en route back from South Africa after being handed a 12-month ban alongside Steve Smith for his role in the scandal.

“Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket,” Warner wrote. “I apologise for my part and take responsibility for it.

“I understand the distress this has caused the sport and its fans. “Its a stain on the game we all love and I have loved since I was a boy. I need to take a deep breath and spend time with my family, friends and trusted advisers. You will hear from me in a few days.”

In his media conference to announce he was stepping down as coach, Lehmann said he had been “speaking with the hierarchy last few days”.

“I had no sleep again last night, I haven’t spoken since Saturday to be perfectly honest – you’re playing around in your head with what’s right.

“It’ll let the game move forward. Hopefully the game gets back to the game of cricket.

“I’ve had a great time. Id love to stay involved in the game because I love it so much.”

Lehmann became most emotional when asked about his proudest moment.

“The way we dealt with Phillip Hughes was my proudest moment as coach. We’re only playing a game, that’s all. We lost a great young man,’’ Lehmann said.

- with AAP

LEHMANN’S COACHING CAREER

*Appointed in 2013. Parachuted in when Mickey Arthur was sacked on the eve of an Ashes series, a measure Cricket Australia took shortly after David Warner’s bar-room stoush with Joe Root.

*Australia lost the 2013 Ashes in England but Lehmann earned praise for creating a more relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room.

*Australia enjoyed a crushing 5-0 victory in the 2013-14 Ashes then claimed the No.1 Test ranking shortly after when they recorded an away series win over South Africa.

*Phillip Hughes’ death rocked the sport in 2014. Lehmann says “the way we tried to deal with that is probably my proudest moment as coach”.

*Australia won the 2015 World Cup at home then lost the ensuing Ashes in England, at which point Michael Clarke retired and Steve Smith was appointed captain.

*Lehmann signed a contract extension in 2016 and announced his plans to step down after the 2019 World Cup and Ashes, both in England.

*Lehmann was cleared by a Cricket Australia investigation into the recent Cape Town cheating scandal, insisting on Wednesday he wouldn’t resign.

*Lehmann resigned on Thursday, having watched sacked skipper Smith’s emotional press conference at Sydney airport and decided the time is right for change.

AAP