Australian ball-tampering: Darren Lehmann to quit as Australia coach

Darren Lehmann became head coach in 2013 and won two Ashes series, including the recent 4-0 victory

DARREN Lehmann is to quit as head coach of Australia at the end of the current Test series against South Africa.

The 48-year-old will step down after the final Test in Johannesburg, which starts on Friday, in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.

Lehmann, who was cleared of any wrongdoing by Cricket Australia, had said on Wednesday he would not resign.

Former skipper Steve Smith plus batsmen David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned for their part in the scandal.

Lehman made his decision after watching Smith and Bancroft deliver emotional apologies at news conferences earlier on Thursday.

“After viewing Steve and Cameron’s hurting, it’s only fair that I make this decision,” said Lehmann, who was contracted until the 2019 Ashes. “I’m ultimately responsible for the culture of the team.

“This will allow cricket Australia to complete a full review into the team and allow them to implement changes to regain the trust of the Australian public, this is the right thing for Australian cricket.

“It’s been a wonderful experience coaching the Australian cricket team. I hope the team rebuilds from this and the Australian public finds it in their hearts to forgive these young men.”

He added: “They’ve made a grave mistake but they are not bad people.”

Lehmann was appointed head coach in 2013, losing his first Ashes series in England 3-0 before regaining the urn with a 5-0 win five months later, also beating England 4-0 this winter.

The team won the 2015 World Cup under his leadership and dealt with the death of batsman Phillip Hughes in November 2014.

Asked what his proudest moment in charge was, he replied: “I would say the way we dealt with Philip Hughes’s passing. We’re only playing a game.”

During the third Test in Cape Town, television footage caught Bancroft take a piece of sandpaper out of his trouser pocket before rubbing the ball.

Smith said a “leadership group” had known of the plan in advance and Cricket Australia’s investigation found Warner instructed Bancroft in how to carry it out.

Smith and vice-skipper Warner have been banned for a year by Cricket Australia, while Brancroft was given a nine-month ban.

The three had already been sent home from Australia’s tour before the final Test.Australia’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had said the affair “bitterly disappointed the whole nation”.

Smith, 28, and Bancroft, 25, have also been suspended from captaining Australia for at least the next two years.

Warner, 31, will not be considered for any team leadership positions in the future. – bbc.com