Johannesburg: A tearful Darren Lehmann said on Thursday he would quit as coach of the scandal-tainted Australia cricket team after the fourth and final Test of the ongoing series in South Africa. “This will be my last Test as head coach of the Australian cricket team,” Lehmann told a press conference on the eve of the match.
“Saying goodbye to the players was the toughest thing I have ever had to do. After seeing events in the media today with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, the feeling is that Australian cricket needs to move forward and this is the right thing to do. I really felt for Steve and, as you see, I’m crying in front of the media. All the players are really hurting.”
Speaking in Johannesburg soon after Lehmann’s announcement, Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland said he wanted to pay tribute to the coach. “He provided fantastic service and has been part of a very successful team that has achieved a lot during his time. I have seen first hand the pride in which he has gone about his work and the love he has for the job and his incredible work ethic. He genuinely loves and respects his players.”
Lehmann, who was due to leave the job after the 2019 Ashes series in England, is going despite being cleared of any role in the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked the sport.
His decision follows 12-month bans given to captain Smith and vice-captain David Warner for the roles they played in a plot to cheat in Cape Town last Saturday during the third Test. Opening batsman Bancroft was banned for nine months for his part in the affair.
“As a team we know we’ve let so many people down and for that we’re truly sorry,” added the 48-year-old Lehmann. “The players involved have been handed down very serious sentences and they know they must face the consequences. They have made a grave mistake but they are not bad people.”
