Lehmann is a decent man who treasures his job... if he knew the plan surely he'd have stopped it

SIMON HUGHES: Darren Lehmann might look like a rogue but he knows right from wrong. He surely would have talked Smith and Warner out of their ball-tampering plans if he had been consulted

There cannot be a lot of trust between a captain and a coach if the former is doing something on the field without the latter’s knowledge.

The captain runs the team but the coach is a filter through which all ideas and plans are fed. If they are not, there seems little point in him being there. Batting, bowling and fielding coaches take care of individual player’s requirements, plus sundry other trainers and physios. The head coach is responsible, with the captain, for overall strategy. 

Yet the initial investigations into the ball-tampering scandal have revealed that Darren Lehmann was unaware of the plan to get Cameron Bancroft to scratch the ball. This tells you two things.

One, there is not a close relationship between Steve Smith and Lehmann. Two, the reason the ‘leadership group’ - which tuns out to be just Smith and David Warner - didn’t mention the idea to Lehmann is because they knew he wouldn’t approve. That should have told them something. But they didn’t listen. 

^{Darren Lehmann has been cleared of involvement in the ball-tampering episode}

That, in many ways then, was Smith’s biggest mistake. Lehmann, for all the vitriol thrown at him on Twitter, is a decent, down-to-earth man. He treasures his job, always puts the players best interests at heart and is generally a happy-go-lucky, approachable chap.

He willingly fronts up to the media on difficult days for his team and answers questions genuinely and honestly. He spent several years playing and coaching at Yorkshire and the players adored him for his mateyness and old school approach.

He likes a fag and a pint and a chin wag.

He might look like a rogue and he has, it is true, presided over an increasingly abrasive Australian team culture, trying to make opponents feel as uncomfortable as possible on the field. But he also knows right from wrong.

He surely would have talked Smith and Warner out of their ball-tampering plans if he had been consulted. 

Lehmann is still head coach for now, although he may not ultimately survive the hysteria about the team raging all over Australia. He is a strong character, though, and will undoubtedly find another role.

You worry now more for Smith. He looked distraught as he waited at check-in at Cape Town airport and if you consider how his life has changed in two days after one moment of madness, you can see why.

^{Steve Smith is pictured at Cape Town airport}

Since that crass decision to approve illegal scratching of the ball he has been stripped of the Australian captaincy and sent home in disgrace, will not play for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and has now been given a 12-month ban.

His loss of income will be only slightly less severe than his huge loss of face. He is just a simple cricketer who has worked incredibly hard on his game to become the best Test batsman in the world.

He did not really have the leadership credentials when he was thrust into the job aged 25, standing in for the injured Michael Clarke.

And now his life is in ruins and he is vilified for bringing shame and disgrace on his country. 

He needs help and support from now on, not abuse.   

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