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Lehmann now BBL assistant coach at Heat

3 minute read

Darren Lehmann will remain at Brisbane Heat as an assistant coach after the BBL club appointed Wade Seccombe as his successor.

DARREN LEHMANN.
DARREN LEHMANN. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Darren Lehmann has stepped down as head coach of the Brisbane Heat but will remain at the BBL club as an assistant to successor Wade Seccombe.

The Heat, who confirmed last week Chris Lynn was relinquishing the captaincy, have locked in their coaching panel for 2021-22.

Seccombe, who oversaw Queensland's push for Sheffield Shield glory earlier this year, will work alongside Lehmann, James Hopes and Andy Bichel.

Lehmann's current tenure started in 2019, with the BBL role marking his first coaching gig since resigning as coach of Australia in the aftermath of the ball-tampering saga.

Lehmann signed a contract extension in April but has since "had a chance to reflect on what is going to be best for me and my family going forward".

"Having a heart attack reinforced how special my family is to me," he said.

"And I have the chance now to continue to enjoy coaching but also to spread some of the workload and pressure that comes with the job.

"There's tons of experience in our coaching team."

Lehmann will depart on Wednesday to start his stint as coach of Northern Superchargers in the inaugural edition of The Hundred, England's new 100-ball format that starts on July 21.

Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson noted the Heat's coaching rejig was Lehmann's initiative.

"He was keen to play a role to ensure Wade was best positioned to have the right experience to take on the national coaching role in the future," Svenson said.

"Darren came to us with some thoughts on how the Heat could develop further and one of the things we talked through was that there was a chance for us to expand our coaching depth and focus to better prepare our players.

"We think Wade is a future coach for Australia and we want to make sure that he's given every opportunity."

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