Lehmann and Brett Lee quarrel over bowling coach: Former Australian cricketers were at loggerheads after David Saker’s resignation.
Australia bowling coach David Saker’s sudden resignation yesterday has put the former Australia duo of Darren Lehmann and Brett Lee at odds with each other regarding the role of a bowling coach for the Australian team.
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Lee, who has 700+ international wickets to his name, was of the opinion that there is not much requirement of a bowling coach throughout the year. On the other hand, Lehmann asserted that there isn’t wrong with a bowler having a personal coach but you require one central point to oversee it all.
“I’d have a part-time bowling coach because sometimes I think a bowling coach is limited to what he can teach the young guys coming through but also to make sure that you’re doing things on the ground with the current team,” Lee was quoted as saying during his commentary stint in the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League.
“Maybe before a tournament starts, come in for a week, do a few top-ups at the start of the season. I just don’t think they need a bowling coach for 300 days a year. It’s good to keep it fresh otherwise the bowling coach becomes stale,” Lee added.
Claiming Lee’s plan as ‘rubbish’, Lehmann was adamant at having a full-time bowling coach. “I think that’s rubbish. Your bowling group need to have a guy they can go to and really be part of that coaching [staff],” Lehmann said.
“I want a guy there full-time, one guy’s got to oversee it all. You have to have that one focal point as a coach but there’s no reason players can’t see other coaches. You’ll still got to have that one central point,” Lehman further added.
Lee then brought his personal experience into the picture citing that the Australian cricket has the involvement of many people. “What I see with the Australian cricket team and when I was there, there’s too many people involved,” he mentioned.
“When I was playing you get to the stage with a bowling coach where you do your work with them in the first couple of weeks [of the season], which is fantastic. A bowling coach is very important but in limited space and timings. I don’t think it should be there full-time,” Lee concluded.
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