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Australian coach Darren Lehmann, just 24 hours after proclaiming he would keep his job, has shocked the cricketing world by announcing his resignation, effective after the fourth and final Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Lehmann might have been cleared in the ball tampering saga which has rocked the Australian team this week, but after seeing the emotional press conferences of both Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft upon their arrival home on Thursday evening, he made the call to stand down from his position.
He told reporters saying goodbye to Smith, Bancroft and vice-captain David Warner in Johannesburg on Wednesday was extremely difficult.
“Saying goodbye to the players was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do,” said Lehmann.
The trio were read the riot act by Cricket Australia, with Warner and Smith suspended from all international and domestic cricket for 12 months, while Bancroft copped nine.
With no time to instate a new coach before the Johannesburg Test, he will remain in charge until the conclusion.
He had previously stated he would continue on in the role until his contract expired next year, but that time has now been cut short.
Australia’s next cricket commitment is not until June, when Australia head to England for five crucial ODI matches in preparation for the World Cup, as well as a single T20.
It gives the board approximately three months to find a new coach, with potential candidates including Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting.
The 48-year-old has been in charge of the Australian team since the 2013 Ashes series when he took over from Mickey Arthur and has since overseen two Ashes series victories and a World Cup win on home soil.
The final Test against South Africa starts on Friday at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, with the hosts having already retained the trophy thanks to their 322-run win in Cape Town.