The Hundred | Leeds rope in Darren Lehmann and Danielle Hazell as head coaches
Darren Lehmann has become the latest Australian to be involved with the league in the capacity of a head coach after having been signed by the Leeds franchise to coach the men’s team. Meanwhile, the team also secured the services of Danielle Hazell to lead the franchise’s women’s team.
It was announced on Tuesday that Darren Lehmann has been signed as the head coach for the Leeds-based franchise for the inaugural season of The Hundred. He becomes the fourth Australian to hold the spot for a team that will be participating in the league, with Shane Warne, Andrew McDonald and Simon Katich having already been named head coaches of the other franchises. Gary Kirsten is the only non-Australian to be appointed to the post by a team in the league so far.
Darren Lehmann has already been involved previously with the region, having represented Yorkshire for nearly 10 seasons as a player. He even helped them lift their first County championship in more than 40 years when he led them to the title in 2001.
"It is going to be special to get back up north where I have so many good memories from my playing days. To go back there to coach in The Hundred is exciting and hopefully we can have some success. I know how passionate the fans are and they will demand that we play an entertaining brand of cricket and win,” the former Australian international was quoted saying by Cricbuzz.
"You expect that when you know the proud tradition of both Yorkshire and Durham. We want to bring in some of the best players in the world and if those players can get it right on the pitch then the competition can go through the roof," he added.
Meanwhile, Danielle Hazell has agreed to take on another coaching assignment by taking over the franchise’s women’s team for the upcoming season, having also represented Yorkshire in her playing days. The former England international accumulated over 120 caps to her name across all the three formats and was a part of the squad that triumphed in the World Cup a couple of years ago. The 31-year-old had announced her retirement earlier this year and is also coaching Yorkshire Diamonds in the KIA Super League.
“Things have happened pretty quickly in my coaching career but you have to take the bull by the horns and enjoy the opportunities that come your way and make the most of them. It's exciting to be involved in a massive step forward for women's domestic cricket. This can push the game forward. After spending my career travelling around the world it is great to be back in the north and putting something back into the region and the game," she stated after her appointment.
