Darren Lehmann’s tenure as head coach of the Australian cricket team is set to come to an abrupt end, if reports from the UK are to be believed.
The Telegraph is reporting that Lehmann will step down from his role in the next 24 hours amid the fallout from the ball tampering scandal which erupted during Day 3 of the recently concluded third Test between Australia and South Africa.
Captain Steve Smith was adamant that the side’s coaching staff was unaware of his plan to tamper with the ball in Cape Town, and Lehmann himself is yet to speak to the press since cameras caught Cameron Bancroft hiding the infamous piece of yellow tape in his pants.
Lehmann was seen talking to 12th man Peter Handscomb via a walkie-talkie before the Victorian ran onto the field to deliver a message to Bancroft. Bancroft was soon after seen hiding the tape, however it is not known what was said by Lehmann to Handscomb.
Lehmann’s position has still been called into question. Plenty of former players believe it unlikely he was unaware of the plot, but if he truly didn’t know, it is a damning indictment of his ability to control the dressing room.
The Telegraph claims Lehmann’s decision is the reason Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland flew out to South Africa last night. Sutherland had originally sent two CA officials – head of integrity Iain Roy and team performance manager Pat Howard – to conduct an investigation, but announced yesterday he would himself fly over to join the team.
Plenty of former players have criticised Lehmann over the last few days, with former England skipper Nasser Hussain one of the latest to do so.
“It doesn’t look good on Lehmann either way, really. If he did know then he’s in a whole heap of trouble and will not be able to hold his job down if he is condoning cheating and (the) scratching of a cricket ball,” Hussain said to Sky Sports.
“If he didn’t know, then questions will be asked as to why senior players are going round not telling the coach exactly what is going on.
“In the dressing rooms I’ve played in, it is inconceivable that the coach wouldn’t know something like this was being dreamt up.”
“The silence has been deafening actually, not just from Lehmann and (David) Saker, the bowling coach, but also from David Warner.”
(AFP, Glyn Kirk)
Former Australian coach John Buchannan cast doubt over the notion Lehmann was unaware of the plan, telling BBC Radio that, “It is unusual as the teams are walking out that the coach is unaware of what’s about to happen.
“Generally it will be the coach and captain, in the last couple of minutes before they go to the field, who will be saying, ‘these are the sort of things we want to do and put in place when we get out on the field’.”
If Lehmann is set to step down, attention will now turn to who his replacement should be. Current Perth Scorchers and Western Australia coach Justin Langer has been touted as Lehmann’s successor for some time, but the former opening batsman is not the only option.
Langer’s former teammates Jason Gillespie and Ricky Ponting are also possible contenders for the head coaching role.
Gillespie made his thoughts on the ball tampering issue known when he wrote a column for the Guardian yesterday calling for Steve Smith to be removed as captain. His availability for the role could be an issue, having recently taken up the head coaching position at Sussex in the English County Championship.
Ponting has become one of the game’s more respected commentators since his retirement as a player, however he has tended to be mentioned as a possible T20-only coach in the past.
Rob
Guest
I think the ball tamping has been systematic for a while now. Has anyone considered why Warner has so much tap all over his hands and then consistently is positioned at mid on from the 20th over? The more I hear about from current players and their attitude towards ball tampering the more it also seems they accept and condone the practice. It sounds very similar to attitude and beliefs the Sharks NRL coach and players had a few years ago. It's a similar attitude Melbourne Storm, Eels, Essendon and God knows how many others have in regards to salary cap rules. The excuse is they feel everyone else is bending the rules os they push things with the belief they will get away with it.
Morras
Guest
I feel the ICC need to take some flack as well. if they didnt allow players to filed with strapped hands the message that they will put out regarding ball tampering will be much clearer. if fingers needs to be taped up like Warners that should be seen as an injury and a player shouldnt play.
ChrisT
Guest
Why? Surely he must be fired and not allowed to resign.
Dave.SA
Guest
I agree the investigation should complete first.. But it isnt a South African tabloid... Pretty unsensational sporting site... The source of the data is cricviz.com .... which until the week end I had never heard of Of course even if the data is 100% it doesnt prove cheating... we need to stack up the other sides swing next to it
Dave.SA
Guest
I am reading that Warner's team mates have the hump with him...especially those that are leaders but werent part of the decision.... Apparently he is sulky and has removed himself from the team's Whatsapp group.. It seems he has his toys packed?...
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yeah he just hasn't told himself yet. He's hiding it from himself for the moment to maintain the element of surprise.
JamesH
Roar Guru
No offence Suzy, but I'm not convicting someone based on a random graph in a SA tabloid. Let CA do their investigation. It sounds like the penalties are going to be pretty heavy for Smith and Warner, with Lehmann poised to step down.
Drago
Guest
I am glad you blokes have clear senses around this firestorm. Most Aussies have lost the plot.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Want evidence of cheating look no further. https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/graph-shows-how-oz-have-got-the-ball-to-talk-in-sa-20180326 That has the coach, captain and vice captain's stamp all over it. All three should get the boot, and then move on. As much as I have enjoyed the fall from grace of the numpty Warner and co. My workmates Kiwis and Poms having a real laugh. My daughter, is born here in Australia, and when she comes home from school and asks me: "Why would my team the Aussies cheat?" I didn't have an answer. I tried to tell her well they couldn't beat my team the Africans...but it seems some innocence has been lost along the way. Boot the cheats and start playing cricket again.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
That would be the smart play for me.
I think you are right, at this point it can't do any good to speak out of turn, CA needs to clamp down all unnessary interviews with the media. It can't benefit Lehman, Warner, Bancroft, Smith or anyone else involved to speak about this without enhancing the chances of more embarressment
anon
Roar Pro
Lemon's silence is an admission of guilt. A head coach should be outraged, shocked, saying that this is completely unacceptable, unfathomable. Instead, not a word from Lemon. Lemon is a coward not addressing this with the media, letting his players take the heat entirely. Steve Myth is a coward employing the equivalent of a drug mule to carry out his dirty. These aren't real men. Real men, real leaders don't behave like this.
CarpingSouthAfrican
Guest
We can all do with a bit more thinking time. The news/rumour mill is in overdrive on this story. In addition to all the Australians involved being under order to keep silent until CA has completed it's initial investigations, just how daft will we look if it turns out Smith was (ineptly) trying to defend Bancroft after he decided on his own to take the measures he did based on his assumptions about something mentioned by others? I'm not saying this what happened, but the point is at this stage we simply don't know. And it won't be long until we do know what CA's slant on this is going to be. From a Saffa point of view? I really hope it doesn't emerge that our boys were at it AGAIN in the same game. From my personal point of view, we should allow fielding teams a bit more freedom to work the ball by bouncing it in etc. and any unnatural/artificial measures should be treated much more harshly.
Andrew
Roar Guru
Please get Dizzy in before England snap him up.
George
Guest
Very little. Which is the problem.
qwetzen
Guest
A poor choice. Sir Les has no cricketing background. Warwick Todd is the man for the job.
qwetzen
Guest
Well for one thing sledging is subjective whereas ball-tampering isn't.
qwetzen
Guest
Since when has any Oz coach been this "... point of control for the culture of the team..." nonsense? Please name *one* instance in any sport where a coach has been punished for their players behaving badly on the field. As the coach doesn't ever set foot on the field of play it is ridiculous to make this "point of control" claim. Imo, in Oz sport, it would be far more likely that the coach *wouldn't* be consulted or advised of any premeditated plan to do something stupid. There's always been an 'Us and Them' attitude in our sports, especially in cricket.
qwetzen
Guest
Nope. I don't need to "ask myself" anything. It's you and your fellow lynch mob members who need to ask yourselves what has Lehmann *actually* done.
Rats
Guest
Because it's the case of pot calling the kettle black when Lehmann complains about crowd behaviour. I have never seen a Australian coach whinge and whine like this. We are not used to seeing Aussies complaining so much. We are used to see them blow everybody's minds with cricket performance. Like the way Starc was cleaning up SA tailenders in the first test. They have the best batsman in the world in their team, best bowler in the world in their team. Let the ball and bat do the talking. Stop complaining. Losing a test is not end of the world. But Smith and Lehmann were acting like it was end of the world. That desperation caused Lehmann to tell crazy things, caused Smith and co to cheat.