An agitated Darren Lehmann appears to have not taken kindly to the suggestion by Cricket Australia's high-performance manager Pat Howard that he reinvent himself following Australia's collapse for 85 in Hobart but he says he is pleased for the Australian players now after they "copped a lot over the last few weeks".
The coach delivered a curt performance at a news conference in the aftermath of a seven-wicket victory in Adelaide that broke a five-Test losing streak and eased a fortnight of intense scrutiny on him, the team and other senior figures in Australian cricket.
More Sports HQ Videos
- Video duration
- 01:30
Australia win third Test in Adelaide
Australia win third Test in Adelaide
A controlled performance from Australia's bowlers enabled two debutants to hit the winning runs and claim victory by seven wickets in the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
Up Next
Vukovic proves FFA Cup is here to stay
- Video duration
- 01:06
- Video duration
- 01:06
Vukovic proves FFA Cup is here to stay
Vukovic proves FFA Cup is here to stay
Sydney FC keeper Danny Vukovic says the FFA Cup is only growing and points to the club signing former Hume City keeper Chris Oldfield as his back-up due to the exposure he got from the tournament.
Up Next
English soccer sex abuse claims widening
- Video duration
- 02:03
- Video duration
- 02:03
English soccer sex abuse claims widening
English soccer sex abuse claims widening
An ex-player who has spoken in public about sexual abuse by a soccer coach says that there are 'hundreds, if not thousands' of potential similar victims yet to come forward.
Up Next
Last-second field goal sees Kansas home
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
Last-second field goal sees Kansas home
Last-second field goal sees Kansas home
The Kansas City Chiefs edged the Denver Broncos with a last-second overtime field goal, 30-27.
Up Next
Ross Taylor hits century as Kiwis dominate
- Video duration
- 00:50
- Video duration
- 00:50
Ross Taylor hits century as Kiwis dominate
Ross Taylor hits century as Kiwis dominate
Pakistan are set 369 to win on the last day as they struggle in New Zealand ahead of their Australian tour next month.
Up Next
Feyenoord's late late injury time equaliser
- Video duration
- 01:05
- Video duration
- 01:05
Feyenoord's late late injury time ...
Feyenoord's late late injury time equaliser
Aussie goalkeeper Brad Jones was called into his opponent's penalty box as Feyenoord scored two goals at the death, with their last coming in the ninth minute of injury time, keeping them at the top of the Eredivisie.
Up Next
Logue lucky to stay in home state
- Video duration
- 00:33
- Video duration
- 00:33
Logue lucky to stay in home state
Logue lucky to stay in home state
Fremantle's number one draft pick Griffin Logue says he was prepared to pack his bags for a move to either Sydney or the Gold Coast.
Up Next
New Orleans tally NFL season-high in win over LA
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
New Orleans tally NFL season-high in win ...
New Orleans tally NFL season-high in win over LA
The New Orleans Saints have tallied a NFL season-high 49 points in a 49-21 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Australia win third Test in Adelaide
A controlled performance from Australia's bowlers enabled two debutants to hit the winning runs and claim victory by seven wickets in the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
It is clear Lehmann was far from impressed at the volume of criticism aimed at him, his players and at the organisation itself, peaking in the wake of the humiliating defeat to South Africa in Hobart that sealed the series for the tourists.
That result prompted selectors, with the encouragement of the CA board, to change half the squad for the third Test and hand debuts to batsmen Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson and the gamble paid off with a pressure-relieving win well inside four days that left the final series ledger at 2-1.
Lehmann was in a bad mood sat before the media in the wake of the victory in Adelaide, the heat on him and others appearing to have taken its toll. He bristled at questions about the Australian set-up and gave short shrift to others.
Asked whether the past week was the first sign of him reinventing himself, as Howard said in Hobart he had an opportunity to do, Lehmann replied: "I was going to wear a suit to the press conference. I didn't. I chose not to."
It was only three months ago that Howard extended Lehmann's contract until 2019 and his reaction indicated he was none too pleased about the advice served up by his boss when the fortunes of Steve Smith's team were at their lowest ebb in years two weeks ago.
Asked how he felt after the drought-breaking win compared to Hobart, Lehmann said: "Well, we won."
He added: "I'm just pleased for the players. The players have copped a lot over the last few weeks and they've responded really well. Obviously a change of players as well. You feel sad for the blokes who missed out in this Test match but the guys who came in did a really good job. Steve summed it up – a new young group going forward. [I'm] really pleased for them."
Lehmann seemed to take particular umbrage at questions about whether he would consider having CA's spin coach John Davison with the team more regularly given Nathan Lyon's outstanding performance in South Africa's second innings while the mentor was in Adelaide. The Australian team does not have a full-time travelling spin coach on its staff.
"So you want another staff member on tour?" he replied. "A lot of people say it's a question of numbers. John's obviously got other roles as well. He's been working with Nathan throughout the preparation phase of all Test matches, so he's been around ... just [in]Â Adelaide he stayed around.
"I would have thought we've had Murali and had Sri [Sridharan Sriram as temporary coaches on tour], so we've had a couple around the place. Davo's come around on tours. When we're away, we normally take one. I don't think we haven't taken one to the sub-continent."
On how Australia would manage fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the rest of the summer, Lehmann said: "We gave them a break [for the ODIs in South Africa] didn't we? So they should get through the summer. But we got in trouble for that as well. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't."Â
Asked then whether he would prefer to have players returning to the Sheffield Shield rather than switching to the one-day format for three matches against New Zealand, the first in Sydney on Sunday, Lehmann replied: "Can't do anything about it. It's red ball, pink ball, white ball, pink ball then red ball. It's just the way it is. Can't complain about it. Just get on with it."
0 comments
New User? Sign up