It has always seemed coaching is at least partly a superstition. Australia’s Ashes whitewash will have people praising Darren Lehmann based solely on an observed correlation.
The team was losing, then Lehmann arrived, and they got better. It must be the coach, right? So says the mentality that sees football managers shuffled at whim like rosaries slung round the mirror of an Ecuadorian mountain bus.
If you don’t like your results, make like Roman Abramovich and keep sacking coaches until you end up back where you started.
In the face of repeated questions about both his position as England captain and Andy Flower’s as coach, Alastair Cook has repeatedly observed that when teams are going well, the captain and coach are hailed as great leaders and geniuses. When results change, they becomes incapable and incompetent.
Of course leadership affects a team, but there are many other factors swirling around.
A coach may be as assiduous as any in history with tactics and planning, but if his players can’t deliver on the field he will lose nonetheless.
On the other hand, poorly led sides can record great triumphs if one exceptional player produces sufficient brilliance.
It is reasonable to say this Australian side is united and happy under Lehmann’s stewardship.
This is also a slightly dim observation: of course they look united and happy when they’ve just won 5-0. But rather than that happiness being down to the result, one feels the result must be in part down to that happiness.
Australian players have consistently spoken about how good the team environment has been since Lehmann took over.
Even through a difficult tour in England, there was a sense of resilience and even enjoyment about the Australians. Various trials were made regarding players and batting positions, with a view to the home summer.
“I still say that’s one of the best tours I’ve ever been on,” said Lehmann after the fifth Test win in Sydney, “so from our point of view it was a learning tour if you like.
“You don’t want to lose 3-0, every game we play we’re trying to win, but in essence, in where we wanted to get to as a playing group on and off the ground, it was an exceptional tour for us.”
Once the summer arrived, you felt every Australian player knew exactly what his place was in the team and what was expected of him for the series ahead.
You also felt they were secure in having been given the series at that position, rather than playing Test by Test and fearing each might be their last.
With that kind of security in themselves, formerly unproven players were able to stamp some authority on the game.
Chris Rogers recovered from four low scores in his first five, going on to post 54, 61, 116, 11 and 119 from his next. Steve Smith came through two lean matches to score two crucial hundreds from the final three. David Warner shrugged off the accusation of inconsistency on a three-Test run of 49, 124, 29, 83*, 60 and 112. Shane Watson was Australia’s second-highest scorer behind Rogers across all ten Ashes Tests.
Mitchell Johnson was given free rein to attack as fast as he could in short spells, while pace colleagues Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris hunted around him, and spinner Nathan Lyon supported the three with admirable control.
The four only grew in confidence as a unit, and spoke constantly of their satisfaction at working together so well.
After claiming the world record for wicketkeeping dismissals during the Ashes in England, Brad Haddin notched another record for the most runs in a series by any batsman outside the top six.
He saved Australia time and again, and was as important as Johnson in regaining the Ashes. All this, after time out of the team that had many of us predicting he would never play for Australia again.
Whether it’s coincidence or not, all of these players have flourished during Lehmann’s tenure. If Lehmann has made them feel secure in their places and at home in the team environment, then much of the credit must be his.
Captain Michael Clarke ascribes to the theory. “I think Boof played a big part in allowing us to play with freedom, and a big part of that is the environment that’s created before you even walk out onto the field…
“Just his personality, the person he is, he creates a comfortable environment.”
Not that it’s not just about having a friendly presence in charge. “There’s a side to Boof that is as well prepared as any coach that I’ve ever played under. He’s very prepared in regard to the opposition we’re playing against and he and I did a lot of work even in England in preparation for the Australian summer.”
Of course Lehmann has planned assiduously – as much has been clear from Australia’s bowling and fielding plans against that choked the touring side. But with players of this skill, the psychology of managing them must be just as important.
From this perspective, it’s only right that Lehmann is given his due.
Geoff Lemon is a writer and radio broadcaster. He joined The Roar as an expert columnist in 2010, writes the satirical blog Heathen Scripture, and tweets from @GeoffLemonSport. This article was first published by Wisden India, in a new-founded Ashes partnership.
IndianCricketFan
Guest
Amongst all the national celebrations in Australia,i have to ask one question? I hope i won't be shut down by "call-center employee" and other stuff buti have to ask this...Are Australian sports fans bandwagoners?I mean the people who only support their team when they are winning! I read so many articles that Cricket was losing to football codes not only in popularity but now soccer was beating it in the summer as well. But now i come on this site and read only cricket articles...good for me though but it seems even the Big Bash broke TV ratings and crossed the million mark(which apparently is a big thing in Australia). This is not a derogatory question and it's just a simple question to see how Australian sporting crowd thinks. In India , there was a lot of fascination with Cricket with neutral cricket matches happening across the world but all that's gone now. People do follow Cricket but they would just catch it on Tv in the evening and not discuss it like the way it's done in Australia.The Sachin debate was an exception and the IPL has made cricket franchise-friendly like the EPL...not sure if that's positive or negative for the game of Cricket. But i have a bad feeling Test Cricket in India is going to suffer from this football(soccer) club mentality.
Bayman
Guest
.....and it's incredible that anyone believes that talent is all that is required to succeed. Pietersen has talent, Swann has talent, Cook has talent and they failed miserably compared to their best performances. Could it be the result of off-field situations impacting on their mental state, confidence and ability to simply play up to their ability. Poor results have then compounded the problems for England and their confidence is now at an all time low. Failure to survive past thirty odd overs is an indictment of England's current mental state. To paraphrase an English television show, "I'm an England cricketer, get me out of here!" Happy players produce better results than unhappy players. Lehmann has clearly changed the dynamic of the dressing room and since he began in the job the players have bought into the Lehmann method. The results have proven him right and also confirmed, for the players themselves, that the message is one worthy of a listen. In England the improvement after the first two Tests was clear and the results out here simply support the suggestion of that improvement. The right opposition players have been targeted, the right tactics employed. Clarke is responsible for what happens on the field but Lehmann, off the field, provides an environment in which Clarks can work without unnecessary pressure from management. I agree fully that the players must produce the performances and the winning, or the losing, will naturally follow from that. But what makes Pietersen and Cook, for example, play so poorly is not a lack of talent given their previous performances against Australia. So it's something else - so maybe the notion of a coach making a difference to the mental state and approach of the player is not so far-fetched. As England has discovered already winning can hide a multitude of sins. Three-nil at home did not translate into a series victory in Australia. Australia's current success will not necessarily be replicated in South Africa. It won't mean Lehmann can't coach if South Africa wins. What will be important is how the Australian team perform in those matches. Good players will normally be beaten by better players - in any sport. Lehmann will, however, provide an off-field environment which will allow the players to perform and perform well. Whether that will be good enough to beat South Africa over there is yet to be seen. So it's not just talent that is all that is required. The world is full of talented non-achievers.
Jake
Guest
Rogers wasn't a debutant.
Squirrel
Guest
Christo your not Kerry O'keefe pulling our leg. That was hilarious. Thanks Arthur for sweet fa.
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
Clarke and watto have sorted out their differences and i think boof played a major part in that reconciliation.Hats off boof! Ps:Back-to-back tons from Bucky Rogers has seen him climb to a career-high 12th on the ICC Test batting rankings!
Magic Sponge
Guest
I'm going 2-1SA.. England were dreadful
jameswm
Guest
Yeah I noticed that too. The 4 of them embraced as a unit, a team within a team. It was touching!
Steele
Guest
Ponting actually was top scorer in the shield last year so I don't think his poor form was permanent. I just think Sth Africa have a great pace attack and got the wood on him. I think Old Punter would of done alright against this pace attack. I mean look at Rogers, he's past his peak yet still excelled. Taking this long to pick Rogers has been a national disgrace by the way. I wonder if Boof reassured Rogers of his place after some early failings? He too got selected far too late onto his career. I'll never understand how Quiney, Cowan, Marsh, North, henriques all got picked before him.
Steele
Guest
Great point Fonz, proof enough Arthur was a dud for me!
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I see you've gone the simplistic route. Predictable. Just remember that if it wasn't for rain and some dodgy decisions Australia could easily have drawn (or possibly won) the Ashes in England. And nobody in their right mind would have been able to credit Lehmann with much - he'd only just arrived. As many people have said (including the captain), Australia wasn't far off in England. And you have to acknowledge that Arthur had worked with the team right up until that tour started. It's just using logic that part of the credit for the current success has to go to Arthur.
jameswm
Guest
If Maddinson had then kicked on in the first half of the Shield season, he might have been near the front of the queue. But he hasn't. There's luck in being picked - being at the front of the queue when a spot becomes open.
jameswm
Guest
Sorry - I should be supporting Arthur for overseeing so many losses. And criticising Lehamnn because the team is winning under him and enjoying their cricket. The proof is in the pudding.
eric
Guest
Fair go Johnno, I strongly believe money was not a factor in Ponting's delayed retirement. It was pride and determination, two of the very traits that made him a great batsman, but he was too stubborn to adjust his technique. Regarding Lehman, it appears he was the right man at the right time. The players had had enough of the cultural problems and the results and were ready to really embrace a change. And everything came together, they won tosses, everyone stayed fit, they held catches, didn't get any howlers of decisions, Johnson found his mojo, and it all built momentum. I think something similar happened for Ewen Mackenzie & the Wallabies. If it wasn't for a couple of shocking ref decisions against England the Wallabies would have come home undefeated and Ewen would be as loved as Boof is now.
Johnno
Guest
At the moment it's all Boof is the star. He was tested in England, but he wasn't to blame it was Arthur's fault his team. Link got more abuse from the Jake White ticket, over his failure to be the AB'S. Boof's challanges are gonna come up soon. -What if one of the paceman go down or 2 or 3 down even. Johnson,Harris,Pattison, then what ? -What if wer'e 1-0 down or lose the series in South Africa then what -Also Boof may have to tap some of the ageing players, in the side give em the tap on the shoulder.eg Watto,Rogers,Harris,Mitch,Pup. -And that includes Pup. What if Pup's back declines and he stops making runs, will Pup have a hissy fit like Ponting and refused to go until he can barely hold a cricket. Ponting's petulance and refusal to leave, was despicable. He put the cash 1st, Baggy Green second. Shame Ponting. -Pup says he will walk if he's not up to it, we will see. -Boof also has to develop the middle order more, a few chinks there. A tough time awaits Boof, then will find out what Boof is made of, on away tours. -Pakistan in the UAE will be a tough tour too.
Bearfax
Guest
Should also be noted in Africa, the star after Warner left wasnt Doolan. It was Maddinson. I wonder if Boof took special note.
Arthur fonzarelli
Guest
Aussies paying $21 to win 3-0 in south Africa . That is some nice action in current form , I think a modest speculative investment is appropriate .
ak
Roar Guru
It is a team game. Everyone takes a bow.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I'm really looking forward to the Oz tour of SA. Praying, as a neutral, that it'll be an entertaining and close fought one. This Ashes certainly wasn't. I only wish it were a 5 match series though...
Stephen
Guest
It is interesting to note the Australian sporting organizations - Rugby, Football/soccer and Cricket have all in the past 12 months switched from an overseas head-coach to a local appointment. I'm a strong believer in 'merit' for any job selection. However culture is a powerful force. And perhaps a domestic/local coach has a better sense for it.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Agree completely. It's possible. Losing Kallis is a big deal.