³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Northamptonshire have appointed former Australia batter Darren Lehmann as their head coach on a two-year contract.

The 54-year-old replaces John Sadler, who left the club on 6 September following defeat by Somerset in the T20 Blast quarter-finals.

Lehmann was in charge of of Australia's national side from 2013 to 2018 and has also had coaching spells in The Hundred and Indian Premier League.

"Northamptonshire has a great history in our game and I am looking forward to meeting the players and learning about the club and its past, and create our own history over the coming months and years," Lehmann said.

"The selling point for me is a group that wants to get better and follow their, and the club's, dreams, create memories and play at the highest level possible.

"I will encourage this on and off the field, as well as [an] open-door policy. I'm sure we will have success and fun along the way."

As a player, Lehmann appeared in 27 Tests, hit the winning runs in the 1999 World Cup final and scored more than 1,400 runs to help Yorkshire win the County Championship in 2001, their first title for 33 years.

Moving into coaching, he guided Deccan Chargers to the IPL title in 2009 and also had domestic success at home - with Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash.

He was appointed by Australia in 2013 and helped them win two Ashes series against England and the 2015 World Cup but resigned as head coach in March 2018 following the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, which led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all serving bans.

Lehmann coached Northern Superchargers in the inaugural season of The Hundred in 2021 but did not return the following year, citing Covid-19 and potential quarantining and travel restrictions as factors for his decision to step down.

Northamptonshire were relegated to Division Two of the County Championship in 2023 and finished fourth this summer, but won only two of their 14 games.

Their most recent trophy came in 2016 when they won the T20 Blast for a second time.

"I am delighted we have been able to secure a new head coach with the history, reputation, skills and knowledge that Darren possesses," said Northants chief executive Ray Payne.

"It is a real marker in the ground and demonstrates, once again, the club's desire to achieve to its highest level on the field.

"From our first conversation with Darren it was clear to see his passion and excitement for the opportunity and his coaching philosophy is something that aligns well with the goals of the club."

By Andrew Radd, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Northampton cricket commentator

For the first time since 2003 – when Kepler Wessels replaced Bob Carter – Northamptonshire have not appointed their head coach from within the existing coaching staff.

Many supporters will applaud the ambition of bringing in a man with a proven track record, as both player and coach, at international level.

The club’s pre-season targets ahead of the 2024 campaign will be much the same when Lehmann arrives at Wantage Road next February – securing Championship promotion and taking the side deep into the two white-ball competitions.

Unsurprisingly, this announcement accentuates the positive, but the county faithful, who are not always the most patient bunch, will expect tangible signs of progress from April.