Darren Lehmann was not a part of the ball tampering plan, insists James Sutherland

The ball-tampering saga has put the entire Australian cricket team and the administration (Cricket Australia) under pressure. The head coach Darren Lehmann was also under fire after Steve Smith publicly announced that the leadership had a prior idea of the ball-tampering. The investigation carried out by Cricket Australia, however, has suggested that the trio of David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith were the only ones involved in the plan.

There were also reports and speculations that stated Lehmann might step down as head coach after much controversy breaking out. However, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland has backed the coach and stated that Lehmann did not know anything about the trio’s plan and was himself surprised. Hence, he will continue to be the head coach of the national side. 

“I don't want to get too involved in the specific comments or findings of the review, but I do, in Darren's defense, want to clarify that specific matter. I want to say that he sent a message to say 'What in the hell is going on?' he didn't use hell, he used another word. That was found to be, through Iain's (Iain Roy, head of Integrity) investigation, a fact. I want to make that point very clearly that Darren made those comments and Iain was certainly satisfied that Darren wasn't involved and didn't know anything about the plan,” Sutherland told the journalists in Johannesburg, as reported by Cricbuzz. 

The CA chief also brushed aside talks of Australia changing the ball condition intentionally multiple times. He said that the primary goal of this investigation was the events that transpired in Cape Town. 

“I don't think that there's any evidence that we've seen or heard during the investigation. Clearly, the primary focus of his investigation was very much about the events of Cape Town, but also about his discussions and responsibilities was to ask questions more broadly.”

“If there are credible allegations or suggestions to the contrary, we have a responsibility to instigate. It doesn't necessarily stop here, but at the same time through the investigations that far that it does appear to be an isolated incident,” he added.

While Darren Lehmann will still continue as the head coach, the trio of David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith has been banned. Bancroft has faced a 9-month ban while Smith and Warner have faced the axe for 12 months.