Former Australia head coach Darren Lehmann has unexpectedly stepped down from his assistant coaching positions with the Brisbane Heat and Queensland men's teams to take up a full-time role as a cricket commentator with ABC Sport for the upcoming summer.
Lehmann, 54, still had a year left on his contract as assistant coach, having been part of the Heat's coaching team that led them to victory in last season's BBL, their first title since he guided them to their inaugural win in 2012-13.
Initially, Lehmann was set to continue working under new head coach Johan Botha, following Wade Seccombe’s departure earlier this year. However, just before the start of the 2024-25 season, he chose to leave his coaching duties to take on the commentary position, which will cover events like the Border-Gavaskar series and the BBL. This career move may also signal the end of his coaching journey, especially after failing to secure head coaching positions with both the Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades, which went to Tim Paine and Cameron White, respectively.
Reflecting on his time with Queensland Cricket (QC) and the Heat, Lehmann expressed gratitude, stating that his years with the teams were filled with great memories. He extended his thanks to the players and staff, acknowledging how much he enjoyed his experience there.
Queensland Cricket’s CEO, Terry Svenson, praised Lehmann for his significant contributions to the state’s cricket development. Svenson remarked that Lehmann’s influence, whether as a coach or mentor to individual players, had been a valuable asset. He added that last summer’s BBL title win was a fitting way for Lehmann to conclude his time with the team. Despite their hopes to see him continue, Svenson wished him the best in his new role with ABC Sport.
With Lehmann's departure, Andy Bichel is now the sole remaining member of the coaching staff for both Queensland and the Brisbane Heat, as the teams begin a new chapter under the leadership of Botha and high-performance general manager Joe Dawes.