Coach Darren Lehmann Announces Decision to Step Down

A teary-eyed Lehmann said he and his family received abuse over the ball-tampering scandal.

A tearful Darren Lehmann on Wednesday said he would quit as coach of the scandal-tainted Australia cricket team after the fourth and final Test of the 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 (Thursday) with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, the feeling is that Australian cricket needs to move forward, and this is the right thing to do. 

Darren Lehmann, Coach, Australian Cricket Team

Lehmann, who was due to leave the job after the 2019 Ashes series in England, is quitting despite being cleared of any role in the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked the game.

His decision follows 12-month bans given to captain Smith and vice-captain David Warner for the roles they played in the ball-tampering episode in Cape Town last Saturday during the third Test.

“My family and I have copped a lot of abuse over the last week and it's taken its tol. After speaking to my family at length over the last few days, it's the right time to step away,” added Lehmann.

He conceded that he should take some blame for the aggressive culture that has developed in the Australian team during his time as coach.

I am ultimately responsible for the culture of the team and I’ve been thinking about my position for a while. Despite telling media yesterday (Wednesday) that I’m not resigning, after today’s event, it is only fair that I make this decision.

Darren Lehmann, Coach, Australian Cricket Team

“This will let Cricket Australia make a full review of the team and implement changes to regain the trust of the Australian public,” said Lehmann

Former players had been calling for Lehmann’s head, suspecting that he might have been involved in the ball-tampering plan that led to the sacking of Smith, vice-captain David Warner and opener Cameron Bancroft.

Television footage showed Lehmann sending a message out onto the field before Bancroft dropped the piece of sandpaper he was clandestinely using to rough up the ball down his trousers.

However, Cricket Australia cleared Lehmann of wrongdoing, with the organisation's CEO, James Sutherland, saying Lehmann was as surprised as the thousands of spectators in Cape Town’s Newlands stadium and millions more watching the images at home.