DARREN LEHMANN saved his skin as Aussie coach with six words, including typically fruity language: “What the f*** is going on?”
That is what he demanded to know from his players when he called them together during tea on day three of the Third Test in Cape Town.
Lehmann was shown on TV on his walkie-talkie as soon as pictures of Cameron Bancroft handling sandpaper flashed on the giant screen.
Then 12th man Peter Handscomb dashed on to the field to talk to Bancroft, who shoved the sandpaper inside his pants.
Lehmann, known as ‘Boof’ and the brother-in-law of ex-England all-rounder Craig White, insists the apparently damning images were him trying to find out what was happening.
His version of events was corroborated by other witnesses when Cricket Australia probed the scandal.
Lehmann said: “The coaches and support staff had no prior knowledge of the incident. The first I saw of it was on that screen.
“I was obviously straight on the walkie-talkie and said something to Peter. There were a couple of expletives in there. Then I spoke to the players at tea time and told them we’d deal with it at the end of play.
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“That conversation took place with those guys (Smith, Warner and Bancroft). It was a grave mistake by three young men and we have to try to win back the public now and play the type of cricket they expect us to play.
“A lot of things have been said about myself and my family, which is expected. So it’s been really tough for everyone involved, including fans and people back home and around the world.”
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CA chief executive James Sutherland said: “It has been verified by others that the first Darren knew about it was when it came on the screen.
“He radioed down and said, ‘What the f*** is going on?’. He said to Handscomb, ‘Find out what the f*** is going on’. Then he brought everyone together at the next break.”
Now Lehmann is vowing to change the culture and soften the aggression he has overseen as coach.
He said: “The thing for me would be to take a leaf out of someone like New Zealand’s book, the way they play and respect the opposition.
“We do respect the opposition but we push the boundaries on the ground.”
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