His voice choking with emotion at a news conference, Australia cricket team coach Darren Lehmann said his decision to quit was tough but voluntary. Photo: ReutersJohannesburg: An emotional Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann said on Thursday he was stepping down after this week’s Test match against South Africa due to abuse he and his family received over a ball-tampering scandal that has rocked the sport. Been thinking about my position for a while, despite telling media yesterday that I’m not resigning,” he said. Watching axed captain Steve Smith break down repeatedly at a news conference on his return to Australia removed any final doubts about quitting, he said. However, Cricket Australia cleared Lehmann of wrongdoing, with the organisation’s CEO, James Sutherland, saying Lehmann was as surprised as the thousands of spectators in Cape Town’s Newlands stadium and millions more watching the images at home.

Source: Mint March 29, 2018 13:18 UTC