Boof always the man for the job

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland says Darren Lehmann was earmarked as a candidate for Australia’s head coaching position long before he was chosen to replace Mickey Arthur in England.

Speaking to Fox Sports on Boxing Day ahead of the Commonwealth Bank Ashes Test at the MCG, Sutherland said Lehmann had brought the best of his characteristics as a player into the Australian camp.

“I think for Darren it was actually a good time for him,” said Sutherland. “Previously, when Mickey was appointed, Darren actually hadn’t coached before, he hadn’t had any experience.

“But during the course of the previous 18 months or so he’d been coaching in Queensland he’d had success, both with the Big Bash and the Sheffield Shield and we knew he had the ability to get the best out of players and I think he’s continuing to grow in the role.”

“He’s still learning and still getting better but certainly the stability he brings and the confidence he gives the players is something that’s a real positive. 

“He’s been in our sights for a long time,” Sutherland said. “In fact, there’s been development work done with him over the course of the last few years as a coach to give him opportunities that he might not otherwise get. 

“An example of that is that he was actually in England when we made the change, he was the assistant coach with the Australia A team, even though at the same time he was coaching Queensland.”

Sutherland said he has been impressed by Lehmann’s management style as well as his tactical strengths.

“I think they’re the characteristics of him as a person the same as he was as a player,” Sutherland said. “Fiercely competitive, but at the same time relaxed.

“He makes people feel comfortable in their environment, he makes people understand what their role is, and if they’re not performing their role and what they need to do then he will also be hard and fair.”