Darren Lehmann, who left his job as Australia coach in the wake of the sandpaper scandal last spring, has been confirmed as the men’s coach of Northern Superchargers, the Leeds-based team in the Hundred.
Lehmann, who captained Yorkshire during nine years at the county, is joined at Headingley by Danielle Hazell, the former England spinner, who will coach the women’s team in the ECB’s new limited-overs competition.
He said: “It is going to be special to get back up north where I have so many good memories. To go back there to coach in The Hundred is exciting and hopefully we can have some success.”
Hazell is one of just two English coaches to take charge of women’s teams in the Hundred, the other being her former England team-mate Lydia Greenway, who is set to take charge at the Oval Invincibles. The other women’s teams will be led by overseas coaches.
Hazell, who is the coach of Yorkshire Diamonds in the Kia Super League, said: “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.”
Northern Superchargers are managed by Yorkshire and Durham, so Durham-born Hazell — who played her last international last year — and Lehmann make some sense.
The Australian played in Yorkshire’s Championship-winning team of 2001 and scored 8,871 runs, including 26 tons, at an average of 68.76 for the county in his nine years.
Lehmann quit as Australia coach after five years in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. He led the team to victory in the 2015 World Cup and two Ashes series. He was judged to not be involved in the ball-tampering plot but the questionable culture of his team led to his downfall.
