Q&A: Lehmann on Leeds, format & tactics
NEWSHe's a Yorkshire legend. Now Darren Lehmann is back for The Hundred. Northern Superchargers, get to know your men’s head coach. Why he’s excited. His timeout plan. And his top draft pick.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE HUNDRED?
The new format. I’m excited about how it is going to play out. Everyone has their own take on the 100-ball format. But with the quality of players that we’re going to be able to attract, it should be pretty exciting.
NORTHERN SUPERCHARGERS AN EASY CHOICE GIVEN YOUR STATUS IN YORKSHIRE?
Definitely. To get back up north with so many good memories from my playing days is something I’m really looking forward to. To go back there and coach and hopefully start a new way of playing in a new tournament is exciting. Hopefully we can have some success for the north. There’s a lot of home-grown talent in Yorkshire and Durham and I would love to tap into that.
CAN YOU GRAB FANS’ ATTENTION IN THE NORTH?
They’ll demand that we play an entertaining brand of cricket and to have some success. You expect that when you know the proud tradition of both Yorkshire and Durham. If the players get it right and we have the quality of players then it can go through the roof.
BEST WAY TO USE THE TIMEOUT?
It will be midway through the innings so that you can stop a run-on as a fielding side, or refine where you are at so that you can get a run-on as batters. It’s 100 balls so you haven’t got long and you don’t want to complicate it.
HOW WILL THE 10 BALL OPTION WORK?
I think the bowlers will bowl 10 balls at various stages, but it will depend on who is batting. If your match-ups suit then someone will bowl 10 balls in a row. I can see that happening.
WHICH PLAYER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO PICK?
I would have Ellyse Perry for the women’s team and for the men’s AB de Villiers or Rashid Khan. They are all quality players, know the game really well and can adapt to all situations.
Rashid Khan is likely to interest several teams
FAVOURITE THING ABOUT LEEDS?
Family. I met my wife there and Yorkshire itself, I have great memories. They are great, passionate people who love the game and the same goes for Durham too when I was up there. So those memories of friends and family and enjoying my time over a long period.
KEY REASON TO ATTEND A MATCH?
It’s a new format that will engage young people and women and girls as well. That has been the backbone of the Big Bash League — that new audience. It will be school holidays time so you hope that the mothers and fathers can bring their kids down and enjoy a good time.