Darren Lehmann to resign as Australia coach; CA mulls 12-month ban for

Amidst the ongoing ball-tampering saga, involving Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith, that overshadowed South Africa’s 322-run win over Australia in the 3rd Test at Cape Town, it is learned that the Aussie head coach Darren Lehmann has apparently informed Cricket Australia (CA) of his decision to quit immediately. It is said that his decision could be made official in next 24 hours. CA’s decision on skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner is also awaited. While severe penalties like life bans are being talked about, the two can reportedly receive a 12-month ban each as part of their involvement in the incident.

As per a report in the UK Daily Telegraph, Lehmann’s decision to step down as head coach will be made public before the fourth Test of the ongoing South Africa series, and this is the primary reason behind Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland’s desire to fly all the way to the Rainbow Nation. Upon his arrival, Sutherland will meet the players and coaching staff in Johannesburg before revealing in a press conference what the future would be like for Lehmann, Smith, Warner and Bancroft.

Lehmann, who has been fulfilling coaching duties for five years now, has won two Ashes series and a World Cup. While there have been suggestions of his involvement in the planning leading to the ball-tampering incident, skipper Smith has kept Lehmann aside and said the ‘leadership group’ was involved in the incident.

“The leadership group knew about it. We spoke about it (ball-tampering) at lunch. I am not proud of what has happened. It is not in the spirit of the game, not in line with my integrity, the team’s integrity. The leadership group’s integrity has come into question and rightly so. It is not on. It won’t happen again under my leadership I can promise you that,” Smith had said in the press conference after the conclusion of Day 3 in Cape Town Test.

Lehmann, who is yet to publicly speak on the ball-tampering scandal, had earlier announced that he will be stepping down from the responsibilities of a head coach after the 2019 Ashes series.

The report also claims that both Smith and Warner are likely to get 12-month suspensions from the sport, which will affect their participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League season as well. They are also the highest paid Australian cricketers in the IPL and retained by their respective franchises in this season’s auctions.