Two to fill the void left by Boof
IT may take two coaches to fill the void left by Darren Lehmann, with Cricket Australia considering the merits of a revolutionary revamp.
Lehmann was contracted until 2019 but opted to quit after watching Steve Smith’s emotional press conference at Sydney airport on Thursday night.
The final Test against South Africa, which began in Johannesburg last night, is Lehmann’s last game in charge.
The team’s next assignment is a one-day series in England from June 13.
CA will conduct a review of team conduct and culture before starting the search for Lehmann’s successor, with former Test opener Justin Langer the favourite. But there could be more than one replacement.
Lehmann has previously proposed a coaching model in which somebody takes charge of the Test squad, while another mentor takes on the oneday and Twenty20 teams.
“The way the game (schedule) is going, you’ve got no choice ... and cricket is getting specialised,” he said last year.
Many influential figures at CA believe the idea has merit; Ricky Ponting has been sounded out as a specialist T20 coach.
Whether he could be convinced to also take on the 50over team is unclear.
Settling on a new coach is arguably CA’s most important decision as it seeks to rebuild the team’s culture and restore the public’s faith.
Next year will be an incredibly important test of Australia’s approach and ability, with England hosting the World Cup and an Ashes series.
CA chief James Sutherland isn’t keen to rush a decision.
“We don’t play any international cricket for a few months,” he said.
“We’ve got plenty of time to work through that — I know there’s a lot of talent in the coaching ranks in Australia.”
Lehmann’s tearful departure arguably adds further weight to his argument. He is among many members of the touring party mentally exhausted by an intense stretch dating back to the start of the Ashes.
“After speaking with my family at length over the last few days, it’s the right time to step away,” he said.
“They’ve had enough of travelling 300 days a year and not being home at all to see your family, so that’s also a big reason. Life on the road means a lot of time away from our loved ones.”