Cricket Australia hands one-year contract extension to coach Darren Lehmann

Australia cricket team's Ashes-winning coach Darren Lehmann was handed a one-year contract extension on Friday, with senior officials hailing his influence on the squad. Since assuming the role from the sacked Mickey Arthur in June last year, Lehmann has steered Australia to seven Test wins out of 13, with two drawn and four lost. His contract with Cricket Australia (CA) was due to end in mid-2016, but he has won an extra year.

CA's performance manager Pat Howard said in a statement that they have been extremely pleased with the results Lehmann has achieved with the team since he came on board, Sport24 reported. Howard stated that Lehmann has helped create an excellent team environment that has seen players thrive, and added that Australia wants that to continue so they used the winter period to work through an extension to the coach's current contract.

Howard further stated that importantly the extension provides continuity for the team and certainty for Lehmann heading into a critical period for Australian cricket. Lehmann was thrust into the spotlight a few weeks before Australia's 2013 Ashes series in England began when he was appointed to replace Arthur. The former Test batsman said that he was proud of his achievements so far, which have included a five-nil Ashes triumph over England last summer and a 2-1 win in South Africa in March. Lehmann said that he is proud of what they have achieved so far and wants to continue with the work they have done on and off the field with the team, as he feels Australia is heading in the right direction.

Australia begins a two-Test series against Pakistan in Dubai on October 22, the report added.