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The feud between Darren Lehmann and Ed Cowan

19th October, 2018
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Roar Guru
19th October, 2018
21
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Australian cricket is notorious for its feuds. You’ve gone Shane Warne vs Steve Waugh, Michael Clarke vs Shane Watson, Ian Chappell vs too many to mention, Greg Chappell vs players over 30, David Peever vs the concept of dissent. But the one really hotting up at the moment is between Darren Lehmann and Ed Cowan.

The feud goes back – as far as I can see – to mid-2013. Ed Cowan was 17 tests into his test career as an opening batsman. He’d been kind of successful but hadn’t really established himself in the side. Shane Watson wanted his opening spot back, while there was also pressure from Phil Hughes and Chris Rogers, both scoring heavily at domestic level. Ian Chappell wasn’t a fan.

Darren Lehmann took over from Mickey Arthur as Australia’s coach for the Ashes in England. In the first Test, Nathan Lyon was dropped for Ashton Agar, and Cowan was shifted down the order to bat at three, enabling Shane Watson to open with Chris Rogers (Dave Warner was suspended).

Cowan failed twice, getting 0 and 14. When asked about him, Lehmann said “Like everyone, you’ve got to make runs and perform. We’ve told Ed how we want him to play and how we want him to bat… we picked him to do a role. He’ll be disappointed with the shots. So are we.”

Michael Clarke and Darren Lehmann ponder Australia's fortunes during the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval (AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK).

Michael Clarke and Darren Lehmann were unimpressed with Cowan’s Ashes. (AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK)

Cowan was dropped from the side in place of Usman Khawaja, who had three unsuccessful tests before being dropped for James Faulkner.

Cowan never played cricket for Australia again, despite strong domestic form, including being the lead run scorer of the 2016-17 Sheffield Shied.

During Lehman’s reign as national coach Australia gave chances to, or recalled, Khawaja, George Bailey, Alex Doolan, the Marshes, Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw, and Hilton Cartwright – but never Cowan.

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Geoff Lemon wrote that Cowan “was everything Lehmann wouldn’t like: defensive with the bat, prepared to speak out, a smart specky rich kid who didn’t just read books but wrote one. You don’t have to read widely to figure that Lehmann doesn’t rate cricketers he doesn’t like.”

At the beginning of the 2017-18 summer Cowan geot dropped from NSW in favour of Daniel Hughes, on the basis that Hughes was more likely than Cowan to represent Australia in the future.

Shaun Marsh, just one year younger than Cowan and with a worse first class average, was recalled to the national side. Cowan eventually retired from first class cricket.

Lehmann and Cowan are very different type of people. Lehman left high school early to work at the Holden factory, pressed for national honours from almost the beginning of his career, dominated first class cricket consistently. He likes a beer and a smoke, struggles with his weight, is a knockabout bloke, very popular with a lot of people.

Cowan went to an expensive Sydney private school and university, regularly writes, was an investment banker, and took a lot longer to establish himself at first class level.

He’s a cult figure among sections of the cricketing media – good friends with Gideon Haigh, a frequent guest on The Grade Cricketer podcast, and he dedicated his sole Test century to Peter Roebuck. He seemed disliked by the cabal at Channel Nine, even though Ian Chappell went to a private school just as posh as Cowan’s.

Lehmann didn’t bag Cowan in the press the way he did, say, Glenn Maxwell, but then he barely mentioned Cowan at all. The silence was deafening – especially when it came to discussing who might bat for Australia.

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After the 2013 Ashes I don’t think Lehmann ever mentioned Cowan as having even the remotest possibility of getting back in the side. I could be wrong about this but it’s the impression I got.

Cowan kept his opinions about Lehmann relatively muted publicly while there was still a chance he could earn a national recall. But since then the gloves have come off.

Last summer he said suggestions that Lehmann’s son Jake might play for Australia that season were “crazy”.

Jake Lehmann scores a century

Ed Cowan rubbished suggestions Jake Lehmann could play for Australia. (AAP Image/George Salpigtidis)

After ‘Sandpapergate’ Cowan said to 2GB, “Fish rot from the head and it’s time there was a change of leadership at the top.

“I’ve been in the change room. I’ve played under the coach and I’m sure I’ll be supported by other ex-players. It’s a win-at-all-costs attitude and that is what is expected…. [Smith] sits in a hierarchy and there’s someone above him who’s setting the culture of the team. It’s time that that culture changed.

“I think the behaviour of the team in the last 18 months, maybe even longer, has not been fitting of the cap they wear.”

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On a recent Grade Cricketer podcast Cowan said that if Lehmann was coaching in the UAE, Australia would have gone for the win in that first Test and lost by 350.

The latest book from Gideon Haigh, a good friend of Cowan’s, is full of criticism of Lehmann – although none of it is attributed to Cowan, it must be said.

In response, Lehmann seems to have kept quiet about Cowan. Maybe he’s unaware of the criticism, or maybe he’s just keeping his counsel, waiting for things to calm down – Lehmann’s copping it a bit at the moment.

I’m sure both Lehmann and Cowan acted at all times doing what they felt was best. People are always going to disagree when it comes to cricket.

No one can make everyone happy, whether they’re a player or a coach. Not everyone is going to get along in a team. Sometimes feuds can be one way. Selectors are always going to have favourites.

Both Lehmann and Cowan may not think they have a feud with each other.

It does seem unfair that Cowan wasn’t given at least one more Test in England to see how he’d do at number three. It was very unfair that he was turfed from the domestic set up. It’s also refreshing to hear some feisty comments from an ex-player who wasn’t a hard-drinking “legend”.

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I’m sure Lehmann can handle it. Or maybe he’s more sensitive that we think.

As to how it will pan out, who knows? But it helps keeps thing lively. And it’s better than yet another rehash of Shane Warne’s resentment of Steve Waugh. I’d love to see Cowan and Lehmann do a commentary stint together. That would be gold.

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