Darren Lehmann, a perennial Aussie bad ass, played over 200 Test matches and established himself as one of the better left-handed batsman in Australian history. Born in Adelaide on February 19, 1970, his first-class debut coincided with his move to Queensland in 1992. As a cricketer, Darren quickly earned a reputation as an experienced campaigner and inspirational captain, leading South Australia from the helm in a period spanning 2003 to 2008. He wasn’t done investing in the sport, though, and went on to coach. From 2013 to 2015, he artfully and passionately captained the Australian squad through tough competition.
Darren’s time as coach came to a peak during the 2015 World Cup, where he led the Australian team to their fifth World Cup success. Perhaps without knowing it, his expertise was on display when he became the head coach for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He served in that role from 2016-2017. His captaincy leadership was often put under fire especially after the 2017 Ashes series defeat. Darren resigned as coach of the Australian national team in 2018 after the dramatic events and was replaced by Justin Langer.
Yet according to his own legacy, of cricket. It continues today through his son, Jake Lehmann, who has established himself as a talented cricketer on par with his father’s legacy. Jake’s victory continued a family tradition, as his father won the Sheffield Shield during his career. He did so 29 years after Darren won his own title in the same event. This incredible feat is a testament to the Lehmann family’s long-lasting contribution to Australian cricket.
Darren’s path in the sport has presented its share of challenges. He lost his contract with Cricket Australia when he stepped down as coach in 2018. Even in the face of these adversities, both he and Jake now embody the spirit and flaming heart that we’ve all come to associate with Australian cricket.
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