New Australian coach Darren Lehmann has said that his attitude to challenge authority is still strong despite joining the system.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Lehmann's rebellious streak started from the moment he shunned the Australian academy, choosing the old school of state cricket instead, adding that how Lehmann will fare in the current environment is one of the most fascinating aspects of his appointment.
Reacting to speculations that his traditional way of doing things may collide with Cricket Australia's (CA) modern matrix for running the team, Lehmann said that although he will have to fit in with CA management for a few days, he has made his terms clear that he will run the team his own way and is ready to get sacked if he does not manage to make the team win.
Lehmann further said that he trusted the players to play a brand of cricket that will win them enough games, with the report adding that it is to be seen if he and CA's team performance manager Pat Howard can find a middle way.
Although Lehmann have different standards from CA, the report said that he will have his own disciplinary code, in which punctuality is a big must, adding that although the coach also has a set of key performance indicators written on a whiteboard for each game and is often strict, he can also be in a jovial mood with his players.
The report further said that the late Australian cricketer David Hookes had taught Lehmann to challenge authority, which he did in his role as the coach of the domestic Queensland side, by taking a relaxed approach to wellness indexes, and speaking up when he thought something was wrong.
More From This Section
Lehmann had also questioned the way the homework fiasco was handled in India and was fined for publicly querying the bowling action of West Indies import Marlon Samuels during the Big Bash League, although he added that he is aware that he should admit when he is in the wrong, which he said, was also taught by Hookes.
Meanwhile, Lehmann said that he would have loved to play in the current era, adding that it would have been beneficial to his cricket, although he said that he is satisfied with the way he played and the time in which he played, despite being lazier and less stronger than today's batch.
Lehmann further said that he wants his team to play swashbuckling, aggressive cricket.