DARREN Lehmann says he has the “best job in the world”, but don’t expect the Ashes and World Cup-winning coach to be doing it forever.In the next two years leading up to the Champions Trophy, Australia travel to the West Indies, England, Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka, along with two jam-packed home summers, leaving roughly two months of free time for those players not involved in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
Lehmann, his support staff and the players who represent their country in Test, One-day international and T20 cricket spend on average 300 days on the road each calendar year.
And the constant traversing of the globe, playing three formats of the game, is why Lehmann says the position of head coach is one that comes with a short life expectancy.
“If you have a young family it’s tough – they’re at school and all those sort of things.” Lehmann said.
“But it’s the best job in the world. You’d love to be able to do it for 20-30 years.
“I don’t think you can. I think players need change occasionally.
“I won’t be doing it forever, and hopefully I get to exit in my own way.
“That means we’re playing pretty well and going okay.
“If you lose a few in a row you never know, you’re under pressure again. But that’s just the way it is.”
One way to lighten the coach’s load could be to drop a format like players often do towards the end of their career.
Michael Clarke was a three-form player before exiting T20 international cricket in 2011 and then one-day cricket following the World Cup triumph.
Upon taking the role almost two years ago, Lehmann was advised against sharing the job by his coaching peers.
But the former left-handed batsman likes the idea of letting another coach step in to gain experience, just as NSW coach Trevor Bayliss did for the T20 international series against South Africa last November, aided by assistant coach Brad Hodge.
“I had some good mentoring conversations with different international coaches and they’re of the opinion splitting the role is not the way to go as a head coach,” he said.
“Splitting the role (with specific) assistants and (into) disciplines is a bit easier to (provide) longevity for them (support staff).
“As a head coach you need to really drive what you want to do.
“Your captain’s a big driver in that as well.
“What you can do is when you have the end of a long tour take a break and let someone else take over a tour for a short amount of time.”
Lehmann has had a golden run since taking over the reins from former coach Mickey Arthur on the eve of the 2013 Ashes, reclaiming the urn six months later in emphatic fashion and guiding his charges to World Cup glory in March this year.
The 45-year-old signed a one-year contract extension in October last year to see him in the top job until June 2017, taking him through to the 50-over Champions Trophy in England.
While Lehmann refused to rule out the possibility of helping another nation, the decision to relocate to foreign climes is not solely up to the 27-Test veteran.
“I don’t think my wife would like that too much,” he laughed, when asked if he could see himself in charge of another country.
“You never say, never, do you?
“I’m enjoying this role. It’s a role I didn’t set out to do when I started coaching but I’ve fallen in love with the role and I’ve been lucky enough to have a bit of success.
“You’re only as good as your players. The players have been brilliant and bought in to what we’re trying to do. They should get all the credit.
“They’ve been exceptional over a tough period of time in the past few years.
“For them, they help you look maybe a little better than you are. I’m pretty pleased for them.
“From my point of view, it’s a case of taking each series as it comes and see what happens.