Exclusive: Great to be back on ‘home’ turf says Yorkshire legend Lehmann

Lehmann was back in Leeds preparing his players for today’s NatWest Series one-day international against England.

It is the first time he has been involved in a fixture at the ground since he ended his Yorkshire career with an innings of 339 against Durham in 2006 – just two runs short of George Hirst’s county record.

Now the man once voted into the county’s greatest XI by more than 5,000 Yorkshire Post readers said he is relishing his flying visit back to God’s own county.

“It’s great to be home,” said Lehmann, who scored 8,871 first-class runs for the club at the extraordinary average of 68.76.

“This is my second home, and it’s great to be seeing some friends and catching up with everyone at the club.

“I’ve already caught up with Diz (Jason Gillespie, the Yorkshire first team coach) for dinner and a few of the other blokes, Woody (Matthew Wood) and Mags (Anthony McGrath) from back when I was a player.

“I haven’t been back at all since 2009, when I came over for Anthony McGrath’s benefit year, so it’s nice to be involved again in a match at Headingley.”

Lehmann, 43, was one of the greatest overseas players county cricket has seen.

In any other era he would have played many more than 27 Tests, but Australia’s great strength in the Nineties and Noughties meant Yorkshire profited from his world-class services for seven of the 10 seasons from 1997-2006.

“More than anything, I had a great time here,” reflected Lehmann.

“I played well, which is always handy, and we managed to win some trophies, which helps too, but it was the Yorkshire public, the people I played with and the whole experience that made it so incredibly special.

“There were so many great moments on a personal level; the triple hundred in my last innings for the club obviously meant a lot.

“But the best thing was all the lifelong friends I made, and hopefully there are some memories for people to remember me by playing-wise.”

Due to his remarkable performances and affable nature, Lehmann was revered by the Yorkshire public, who warmed to his attacking style and laid-back attitude.

The great man could probably break wind in these parts and draw a standing ovation, and there have not been many more popular figures in the club’s 150-year history.

Although he has had his hands full this summer with the small matter of an Ashes series, for which he was appointed coach less than three weeks before the opening ball was bowled, Lehmann has kept a close eye on Yorkshire’s results under the tutelage of his close friend Gillespie.

Now he is keeping his fingers crossed they can win the County Championship.

“It’s great to see the Yorkshire boys going so well, both as a team and individually, and they’ve still got a good chance of winning the Championship,” said Lehmann.

“If they can win two of their last three games, that could yet get them over the line, depending on other results of course.

“Obviously, Yorkshire have had some financial constraints over the last few years, which has been pretty well documented, but Diz is doing a great job.

“He’s also doing a great job in helping to develop players for England, which I don’t know whether I like or don’t like.”

Gillespie’s success at Yorkshire prompted speculation on Lehmann’s appointment as Australia coach that he could join his friend in the national set-up. Although Gillespie remains fully committed to Yorkshire, there is no doubt his coaching star is on the rise.

“He’s just starting out in his coaching campaign and it’s been successful for him so far,” said Lehmann.

“We talk quite regularly, and I know that he loves Yorkshire.

“Next step, who knows where it’s going to be for him, but he loves coaching and that’s the main thing.

“You need to love it and enjoy it, and he loves every minute of his time at Yorkshire.”

Despite a 3-0 defeat in the Ashes, Lehmann is also enjoying life as a coach.

The scoreline perhaps flattered England a touch, with Australia fighting hard for their new leader and likely to pose a stern threat in the one-day series, with some noting them down as favourites.

“We’re confident of doing well in the one-dayers and we were pretty confident in the Test series to be fair,” added Lehmann.

“We just lost some key moments, but the way that the guys played and fought and all that sort of thing was very pleasing.

“Rain put paid to the chance of a couple of victories, to be perfectly honest, because we were well on top at Old Trafford and the Oval and rain cost us time there, so that hurt, but you can’t control the weather.

“The forecast for this game at Headingley isn’t great either to be honest, but hopefully the rain will stay away because it will be a great occasion for the Yorkshire public.”

Stacking up runs for Yorkshire

Born Feb 5, 1970, in Gawler, South Australia. First played for Yorkshire in 1997 and scored 8,871 first-class runs for the county at 68.76.

Made Test debut against India at Bangalore in 1998.

Hit winning runs in the 1999 World Cup final against Pakistan at Lord’s. Played 117 one-day internationals, scoring 3,078 runs at 38.96.

Leading run-scorer when Yorkshire won Championship in 2001, with 1,416 at 83.2.

Innings of 339 against Durham at Headingley in 2006 ended Lehmann’s Yorkshire career.