Lehmann confirms interest

Darren Lehmann retired last week © Getty Images

Former Australian Test batsman Darren Lehmann has revealed he has received numerous coaching offers.

But 37-year-old Lehmann, who announced his retirement from domestic cricket last week, wants to have a break from the game.

"I would love to get into coaching but I think you just need to take that wait and step back and see what is out there," Lehmann said.

"I would love to coach South Australia, that would be my first choice, but it could be overseas as well. You just don't close the door on anything.

"I am always in contact with the Australian coach Tim Nielsen and there might be some opportunities to do some bits and pieces here and there with the national team.

"But for me it is a case of getting away from the game for 12 months or something and do other things."

Lehmann also ruled out joining fellow retirees Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne in playing in the rebel Indian Twenty20 league.

"Twenty20 is too fast for me full stop. In fact, most games are too fast for me these days," Lehmann said.

Lehmann played for Yorkshire until 2006 © Getty Images

Having played 27 Test matches for Australia during his career, Lehmann now holds the important title of president of the Australian Players Association.

And one of the issues that Lehmann is trying to improve in Australia is the hectic scheduling of matches that the players face.

"You are always going to have problems with the amount of cricket," Lehmann added.

"The amount of cricket played leads to injuries and your best team can't be out on the park all the time and for us we have to make sure we have the right balance between the right amount of cricket over the right amount of time.

"It is always hard juggling that in the international program, it is just a nightmare. We need to get that right and make sure that the best team is representing our country."

Lehmann also raised some doubts regarding Australia's planned tour of Pakistan in March.

"The security of our players is paramount, so if we see any risk at all, then I presume the tour might not go ahead," Lehmann said.

"We get updates from our people over there and from the government here all the time so it's just a matter of monitoring the situation and seeing what happens."