Former Yorkshire CCC star Darren Lehmann enjoying second lease of life after surgery

Former Yorkshire overseas star Darren Lehmann was fearful he would not wake up from a triple heart bypass earlier this year but the unfortunate episode has given him a “a second lease on life”.
By Staff Reporter
Published 20th Apr 2020, 20:35 BST
Updated 20th Apr 2020, 21:16 BST
ON THE MEND: Darren Lehmann, pictured during his time as Australia's head coach with then captain Steve Smith. Picture: Jason O'Brien/PAON THE MEND: Darren Lehmann, pictured during his time as Australia's head coach with then captain Steve Smith. Picture: Jason O'Brien/PA
ON THE MEND: Darren Lehmann, pictured during his time as Australia's head coach with then captain Steve Smith. Picture: Jason O'Brien/PA

Lehmann, who won two World Cups as a player and as coach oversaw Australia’s 2015 triumph as well as their 5-0 Ashes whitewash the year before, was admitted to a Brisbane hospital with chest pains on February 4 - the day before his 50th birthday.

An angiogram highlighted three blockages in blood vessels in the heart and the next eight days proved life-changing for Lehmann.

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“You’re fearful because you just don’t know what’s going to happen in the end,” he said. “You get to the stage where you go ‘Am I going to wake up?’

FAN FAVOURITE: Darren Lehmann celebrates a century during his time with Yorkshire CCC.FAN FAVOURITE: Darren Lehmann celebrates a century during his time with Yorkshire CCC.
FAN FAVOURITE: Darren Lehmann celebrates a century during his time with Yorkshire CCC.

“Not knowing what was wrong ... it’s always the not knowing (that’s hardest); once you know, it’s OK - you start to get some answers, start to get some confidence from the surgeons and the nurses.”

After being successfully operated on, Lehmann, whose disregard for physical fitness and dietary regimes was well known in his playing days, has made some alterations to his lifestyle, including quitting smoking and cutting down on drinking.

He added: “I’ve had a lot of learnings from it. You move forward. I’m feeling better now, but still quite sore in the chest at times. You hope everything’s healing, and you have good days and really bad days, and you pick and choose how you deal with them.

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“It’s been a second lease on life. I don’t get angry anymore, or frustrated. You just see things for what they are. There’s a lot of people out there in more unfortunate scenarios than me.”

Lehmann also revealed he has spoken to current Australia coach Justin Langer about the strain the job can have.

“It’s a life span - how long can you keep doing it before it does change you?” he added.

“I said to (Langer) the other day, that in a weird way, this is a really good enforced break for him right now... I think it will be good for his coaching and good for him as a person.

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“It’s still fun; the playing and the coaching and the planning side of it is always fun.

“It’s everything else - dealing with the politics of the game ... and the travel, and being away from your family - that’s what makes it tough.”

Related topics:YorkshireYorkshire CCCAustralia

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