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Everyone likes Darren Lehmann. He is a good bloke, one of the lads when required, honest communicator, disciplinarian and savage selector all in one.
But after 25 Tests in charge of Australia and the loss of the Ashes is it time to assess whether he really is the man for the job?
25 Tests in charge provides enough evidence of where things are at with Boof and it makes for mixed reading: 11 wins, 4 draws and 10 losses. Only 4 of those wins were while playing away and all 10 losses when touring.
At home we know Australia dominate. Under Lehmann’s tenure, series win against both England and India have been strong, but away series losses to England, South Africa, Pakistan and England have been weak.
It’s definitely a mixed bag. Apart from those home series wins and overcoming the meek West Indies prior to the Ashes, he has failed to justify the hoopla when he was appointed.
While Mickey Arthur didn’t get to coach against England in England, his overall record in charge is actually better than Lehmann’s. He has 10 Test wins out of 18 and 3 series wins versus 2 losses. Not earth shattering, but on pure stats better than Boof.
Of course Arthur wasn’t the right man for the job, based on the homework saga and a general vibe that he didn’t quite fit. Who better to replace him than the archetypal Aussie?
Big lovable Boof, with a hard working attitude, the ability to galvanise, as well as organise the beers after practice.
My guess is that it may have started with his scratchy relationship with Michael Clarke, which one its own could have permeated the team culture in a negative manner.
No match made in heaven, more of an arranged marriage which has had its moments but was based on acceptance rather than adoration.
The second factor is a feeling that he talks a good game but he really hasn’t been able to galvanise and seize the moment.
Increasingly he talks in media bites, while only offering the odd useful skerrick of information. In truth he comes across as the grumpy old pro on tour, who begrudgingly turns up at media conferences and provides the usual spiel before heading out the back for a stubbie.
You get the feeling Boof is not being allowed to be Boof, which of course could talk to his relationship with Cricket Australia in this day an age of media savvy consultants and the monotonous talk of execution plans, working harder, regrouping, bowling as a unit and so on.
A further factor is his handling of his batsmen. As a middle order guru himself he has not been able to instil either the footwork or instinct to play the swinging ball well in England.
As someone who had a highly successful stint in county cricket for Yorkshire, questions should be asked of his ability to improve the execution skills of his current middle order.
The smaller elephant in the room is also whether he will continue to allow Steve Smith to move further to the off stump than good sense allows. If it continues at the current rate Smith could end playing them from cover point.
Of course there is no evidence to say any of this is right but after 25 Tests and an average record in charge, the elephant in the room is whether Boof is to blame. The answer could be yes.
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