by Rex Clementine

Some Sri Lankan cricket fans have suspicions about former Australian batsman Darren Lehmann, whose racial outburst directed at the Sri Lankans almost two decades ago created quite a stir and landed him in trouble earning a severe suspension.

During the annual triangular One-Day tournament in Australia, Lehmann had been run out by Russell Arnold and as he was walking back to the dressing room, the middle order batsman shouted ‘black c****’.

The remark was heard by the Sri Lankan players in the dressing room and a complaint was made to the ICC Match Referee Clive Lloyd. Lehmann then apologized to the Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya and the tourists requested Lloyd to be lenient. Lloyd severely reprimanded the player, but that didn’t go down too well with Lloyd’s bosses at the International Cricket Council.

ICC CEO Malcolm Speed, an Australian himself, charged Lehmann for breach of Code of Conduct and Lehmann was suspended for five ODIs. He missed the finals of the triangular tournament and some games of the ICC Cricket World Cup as well that followed in South Africa in 2003.

Although the Sri Lankan players had moved on, the public were suspicious about the South Australian, who was Yorkshire’s overseas player for several seasons. Lehmann’s recent visit to the island was in 2016 as coach of the Australian team when Angelo Mathews’ side whitewashed the tourists 3-0.

There was another altercation at SSC when the Australian management constantly complained to the curator late Michael de Zoysa about the practice facilities. The press got to know about the Aussies slamming the facilities at SSC and asked de Zoysa for a comment. His reply was a one-liner, ‘dirty Aussies’.

Not too many complementary things are said about Lehmann apart from his brilliant batting in this part of the world. But beneath the rough exterior there beats a heart of gold as Lehmann was seen pleading with friends and family to support a Sri Lankan family that faces deportation from Australia.

Lehmann had taken to social media platforms asking his followers to come sign up a petition that appealed to the Australian government to be more compassionate towards the Sri Lankan family and let them continue to live in Australia.

The petition was gaining momentum. Lehmann had appealed for 500,000 signatures and the petition had already received close to 400,000 signatures by yesterday evening.

Sportsmen can make a difference to make other people’s lives better and Lehmann’s efforts have been much appreciated no matter what the outcome of his appeal going to be. Lehmann is not the only Australian cricketer to appeal to their government to be more considerate on allowing people to remain in Australian rather than deporting them. Ian Chappell, probably the most respected voice in Australian cricket, at the age of 77 is working with United Nations carrying the message to show more leniency towards those who are seeking asylum.

Perceptions about Lehmann should change as well. Things can be said in the spur of the moment. The Aussies say plenty of stuff on the field but deep within, they are a good sport.