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 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.
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.
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”.
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.”
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”.
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.
Wow, probably the least intelligent thing ive ever read
You're a fool
You're an idiot
Ken Hayes
Roar Rookie
Cowan is of course a New South Welshman, and was so - according to him - born to rule. Australian selection was a given to this blue-eyed boy. So he hates Labuschagne; big deal. Cowan is not only a nobody, he is a never was, and there aren't many from NSW who weren't given chance after chance.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Lehmann = Cheika but with some better players. Both helped take the national side into the gutter.
AREH
Roar Guru
Completely shafted, and the way he was handled is nothing short of unacceptable. I suppose Rob Quiney only got two tests, but he did look out of his depth. Similarly, Joe Mennie in the same Hobart test was given a mere single opportunity.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Completely agree, George! As a South Aussie, I was bitterly disappointed in the test side's behaviour and also Lehmann's treatment of SA players during his reign, particularly Chad Sayers and Callum Ferguson ! Ferguson was given one test v South Africa in Hobart and was run out in the first and then played a poor shot in the second dig. Promptly dropped, never to return - can any Roarers remember this happening to any other test batsman ?
Paul D
Roar Guru
Ed Cowan reminds me a lot of Brett Geeves, who has had similar run-ins with establishment figures in cricket australia.
George
Guest
Lehmann got off more or less scot free, slinking out the back door with (ridiculous) crocodile tears into a cushy CA job. A boor who encouraged fans and players to sledge with no amount of wit, and backed only his mates to the detriment of the team. Let's hope Langer is better...
Val
Guest
I agree that Rogers was a better player than Cowan as the stats show but it is interesting to note Cowan's first class record. In current Australian terms a lot of runs with an average that is better than most. They are better than say Aaron Finch's stats and he did well in his first two tests. If you look at some of the hopeful selections based on nothing more than a wif of potential Cowan probably should have been given more opportunities.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
I heard it the other way, in that Cowan didn't let on how ill he was. Or maybe didn't realise how ill he was? Either way the brains trust knew he was ill so it's their responsibility. I quite like Ed. He's very funny and insightful. Arthur and the previous crew certainly loved him. Ultimately it should be about the runs (although Clanger says it's runs and blokeyness) and Ed didn't have enough in the bank.
Greg B
Guest
Many reported that Cowan was gravely ill in the fated Trent Bridge Test match where he scored 0 and 14 yet Lehmann literally plucked him away from a spewy toilet bowl and demanded he get out and bat. In a later press conference Cowan recalled he was so sick he barely even saw the first few balls coming at him. He was then demoted to play in the tour side and as captain impressively piled on massive runs while the rest of the Australian team threw the Ashes away. Lehmann had it in for Cowan from the very start.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
You're long on opinion but fatally short on facts. Cowan was a dull and limited player (an Oz opening bat that didn't drive?) who got dropped by *the selectors* because he wasn't very good. 18 Tests @ 31.8 (and 26.9 away) you know.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Rogers did play better when he came into the side, averaging 42, considerably more than Cowan had. When Rogers retired, selectors went with Joe Burns who scored 71 and 129 in his first test as an opener(He had played two tests batting at six against India the previous summer). Cowan had a great 2016/17 shield series but in 2015/16, his 509 runs at 36 didn't scream out "pick me". His 2014/15 runs matched Joe Burns, but Burns was in the side and scored 3 tons and 3 50's in his first 10 tests. Ed had scored 1 ton and 4 50's in his first 10 tests.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Thank you Ronan.
AREH
Roar Guru
I understood his omission after Trent Bridge 2013, as his form in the six months prior was so-so. The fact though he was never recalled again despite plenty of FC runs was mysterious, especially given how well he paired with Warner. I guess Rogers did so even better, and kept his place. The fact though he was not in the NSW side in the opening round of the 17-18 season was just absurd. The most overall runs in 16-17 by some distance. Smith played that opening round and was a driver behind Cowan's omission if I recall. Definitely something personal with Ed that Lehmann and Smith did not appreciate, and a real shame seeing the old-school style of bat he is; one of the last #Realopeners.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Cowan was in the Rogers mould, probably a better bat than Rogers but selectors didn’t like him..." Test records: Rogers - 2,015 runs at 42 Cowan - 1,001 runs at 31 First-class records: Rogers - 25,000 runs at 50 Cowan - 10,000 runs at 42
Simoc
Guest
Well D Llehmann always sounds as thick as a block of 4 x 2 wood in interviews and commentary and also never got selected to play for Australia until he was over the hill. He was a very good batsman in his prime. As demonstrated in South Africa the players treated him with absolute contempt. He didn't know what was going on. Everyone else knew. Cowan was in the Rogers mould, probably a better bat than Rogers but selectors didn't like him, like they didn't like Brad Hodge, Glen Maxwell or Damien Martyn. They had to pick Martyn because he was so good but the selectors then were more hopeless than the current lot. There are always personality clashes. Greg Chappell was the worst Indian coach of all time and got the gig after failing abysmally at South Australia. He didn't like Ganguly but Indians loved Ganguly and Chappell got flicked. Chappell's career in admin has been hopeless. Him and Llehmann prove that being a great cricketer doesn't make you good at anything else.
The Anvil
Guest
Mitchell Marsh. 30 tests. 2 centuries. Average 26.08 I wonder why he hasn't been dropped.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
18 Tests. One Century. Average 31. Hmmmm - that seems like a fair run in the Test team. I wonder why he was dropped?