The abrupt appointment of Darren Lehmann as Australian coach only 16 days out from an Ashes series is being described by many cricketing reporters as a sign of instability in the tourists’ camp.
However, echoing the words of former English captain and full-time knob Michael Vaughn, Australia will be more equipped heading into the five-Test series against the Poms than before.
‘Boof’ Lehmann honed his skills in a tough era and will be ready to pull the underachieving Aussies in line.
Mickey Arthur failed in his tenure as Aussie cricket coach to gain the respect of players in his squad.
There was the ‘homeworkgate’ saga, which culminated in a painful 4-0 shellacking at the hands of India and a catastrophic start to the tour of England, with Dave Warner handed an $11,500 fine for trying to wallop Joe Root on a night out.
Rather than persist with a disgruntled playing group under a coach doubling as a selector, Cricket Australia have made the tough call to send Mickey back to Seth Efrica; good move James Sutherland.
Although the days are gone of David Boon trying to get his way through 52 tinnies on a trip to the UK, by having Boof around there is an opportunity to have a few schooners with his players rather than ostracise himself from his Gen-Y team.
When Lehmann was crunching cover drive after cover drive for South Australia, Sheffield Shield cricket reigned supreme. It was seen (by a country mile) as the toughest breeding ground for cricketers willing to learn their trade.
After a stop-start introduction to Test cricket before the turn of the century, Lehmann played his cricket in the baggy green under Steve Waugh and in a team with an incredibly strong winning culture. A culture built on mateship and a mutual desire, not individual adulation, to win games of cricket.
It is rumoured this culture of winning was so rife that Mark Waugh didn’t believe in team meetings. John Buchanan would ask the younger Waugh twin what the side needed to do to win the game, and he would bluntly point around the room saying, “Listen here. I’m going to get a hundred. If I don’t, Steve will get a hundred. If he doesn’t, then Ricky will get one. And Shane in the corner will spin ‘em out. Meeting adjourned.”
Lehmann’s coaching adroitness north of the Tweed has not gone unnoticed, having won the Sheffield Shield, one day and Big Bash competitions already. He has revolutionised Queensland cricketers from being pushovers to powerhouses.
His old-school approach has its tough side too, with Lehmann sending home a player this season for turning up a couple of minutes late to training.
Our pathetic efforts over the previous few months have produced a stale and self-deprecating environment within the Australian cricket team.
Lehmann’s sudden start so close to such an important series will not distract the players. They are professionals and know how to personally prepare for games of cricket. The 27-Test veteran will be looking to instil a toughness that has eluded this Australian team since the retirement of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and co.
Lehmann’s currency was the sheer amount of runs he scored, rather than the paycheque he received from the game. His 82 first-class centuries, compared to Dave Warner’s six tons from 53 innings, says a lot about the current standard of supposed young guns. Chris Rogers will play under Boof because of his ability to score bucket loads of runs in English conditions.
Lehmann will be the first person I send a Christmas card to if he pulls Simon Katich from national exile. The fact Michael Clarke has stepped down from selecting duties means a Katich recall may not be out of the question. He is scoring plenty of runs for Lancashire at the moment, and so too is R.T.Ponting for Surrey; a man with unfinished business it feels.
My message for Boof: take the boys down to the pub one night, shout them a feed and a schooner or two. Tell them some stories about why the team of your generation was so tough. Train their backsides off. Tell them how it feels to beat England.
Pin up every single article written in the English papers saying how the lads from down under can’t beat the Poms. Pick experience over expectations.
Gamble with Phil Hughes given his form for Worcestershire last season. Tell your fast bowlers to give it to England verbally. Pick Brad Haddin over Matt ‘Cymbals’ Wade.
And finally, bring that little urn back where it belongs Boof, we’re counting on you!
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