Darren Lehmann has announced that he will step down from his role as head coach of Australian cricket team. Lehmann announced that the last test match of the series against South Africa will be his last Test.
Darren Lehmann has announced that he will step down from his role as head coach of Australian cricket team. Lehmann announced that the fourth test match of the series against South Africa will be his last Test.
Lehmann was cleared of any wrongdoing by Cricket Australia (CA) investigation in the ball-tampering scandal on Wednesday.
However, Lehmann said that after watching the emotional press-conference of former captain Steve Smith, the team needs to move on.
"As many who sit in this room will know, life on the road means a lot of time away from loved ones and after speaking to my family, it is the right time to step away," a tearful Lehmann said.
"Speaking to the players and saying goodbye is the toughest thing I have had to do."
Lehmann said that the amount of abuse he had received since the ball-tampering scandal came out has taken its toll. "Its been happening for a few days and you think you can keep going but the amount of abuse just takes it toll. They made a mistake."
"This was entirely my decision. I have been speaking to the hierarchy in the last couple of days," he added.
Lehamann had earlier said that he fears for the health of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
CA had slapped one-year bans on Smith and Warner besides announcing a 9-month ban on the 25-year-old opener Bancroft for their involvement in tampering with the cricket ball during the Newlands Test against South Africa.
"They have made a mistake as everyone else, including myself, has made mistakes in the past. They are young men and I hope people will give them a second chance. Their health and well-being is extremely important to us," Lehmann had said in his first public comments since the scandal broke.
He had admitted that the players made a grave mistake and hoped people will give them a second chance. "The players have made a grave mistake but they are not bad people. There is a human side to this. I hope people will give them a second chance", he added.
Lehmann went on to say that there is a need for them to change the way they play. "There is a need for us to change the way we play," he reportedly said, adding that the way the New Zealand team plays is a model for the game. We need to work to bring the respect back from the fans", he said.
The fourth Test will be played from March 30 and Australia will be led by their new captain Tim Paine. The wicketkeeper will be leading a side which will also see middle-order batsman Glenn Maxwell along with openers Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw, who have replaced Smith, Warner and Bancroft.
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