Just six weeks after standing down as coach of the Australian team, Darren Lehmann has landed a new contract role with Cricket Australia in the national performance program.
CA’s website carried a story with the news, saying Lehmann would work under national performance program head coach Troy Cooley.
The likes of former players Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers also oversee the development of the squad.
He will work in the role until October, focusing largely on the program but also other pathways in the CA set-up.
Lehmann left his position as national coach on March 29, in the wake of the ball-tampering fiasco in South Africa that resulted in year-long bans for captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner.
He chose to resign despite being cleared of any wrongdoing during a saga which has resulted in a review of CA’s methods, and changes too at International Cricket Council level in the way instances of ball-tampering are policed.
Cooley said it was great to have Lehmann on board.
“I had a good chat with ‘Boof’ (Lehmann) and he was really keen to continue his coaching,” Cooley told cricket.com.au.
“And what a great opportunity – having his expert skills in the areas that we need.
“He’ll work with our targeted group of NPS players, but we’ll also have our specialist blocks come in; so his first four weeks will coincide with our spin program, which involves eight spinners from around the country plus the 10 NPS players.
“They’ll all be able to talk to Darren about playing on subcontinental wickets, get his T20 thoughts, one-day and long-format thoughts about how to play and how to adjust your training.”
Lehmann starts the role on May 28.
George
Guest
Hahahahaha. Yeah right.
qwetzen
Guest
What's not fair is this on-going attacking of Lehmann. Repeat: He did nothing wrong.
Lara
Guest
Totally thick skin, no wonder cricket is in it's current mess.
Whiteline
Guest
The lack of awareness of JS continues to deliver....i had to check it wasn't 1 April
JayG
Guest
Sutherland's survival skills continue to amaze me. Scandals come and go but Sutherland survives!
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Maybe Lehmann copped a playing ban as well.......
Paul
Roar Guru
On the one hand, I'm glad Lehmann got a job so quickly after resigning. On the other hand, it's such a poor look to have him appointed to any role within CA while a review of his and others actions are taking place. Sutherland and co must have their heads up ..... well, somewhere dark, if they think this is a positive move for Australian cricket. It reinforces the need to dump Sutherland because he's repeatedly shown incredibly poor judgement and this is simply another example.
jamesb
Guest
Lehmann is just as responsible as the players. It happened under his watch, regardless of whether he knew about it or not. Players get 12 months and 9 months suspensions, while Lehmann gets a new job, just two months following his resignation. So in effect, the players cop the bullet, while Lehmann, Sutherland and others get off scot free. Doesn't sound fair at all.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It shows how tone def and living in their won bubble CA is. Or they are just that arrogant.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Doing this before the cultural review shows just how much of a non event the review will be.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Sigh... So no real culture change at CA then.
Simon
Guest
Good.
JayG
Guest
Apparently all leadership responsibilities of the Australian team stop with Steve Smith. Darren Lehman, James Sutherland, CA, David Peever et.al. bear no responsibility for any of the action or inaction of the team