Lehmann backs Chappell to coach Australia

Darren Lehmann, the South Australia captain, has pushed for Greg Chappell to take over from John Buchanan as coach of Australia. Buchanan's term ends after the World Cup in the West Indies next year and Lehmann, who worked with Chappell during his time with the Redbacks, was particularly impressed by the way Chappell handled the youngsters in the side.

"Greg Chappell was fantastic for me when he coached us, and he would be excellent with a very good bunch of cricketers," Lehmann told The Age. "The team is changing and there are going to be some young blokes brought in after the World Cup. Once they do that, they're going to need a really good man-manager to help the young kids out and a good coach, technically, to help them through."

Tim Nielsen, the head coach at the Centre of Excellence and a former assistant coach to Buchanan, is one of the prime contenders to succeed Buchanan, as is Tom Moody, the Sri Lanka coach. Both Chappell and Moody have been appointed till the World Cup and while the Indian board is likely to extend Chappell's term, Moody said he would keep his options open.

However, Geoff Marsh, Buchanan's predecessor, sensed Moody might be pursued by England. He shared Lehmann's view that Australia would benefit from the services of a coach who has a good rapport with young players. "I think England will be after him [Moody]," Marsh said. "I just think he has spent so much time in England coaching Worcestershire, playing in Worcester, and I know he is held in very high esteem over there.

"I coached very much like [Bob] Simpson, and Buchanan came from a different angle, but I think over the next five years you're going to have a lot of new players coming into the side, younger players, and you would like them to be guided by someone like a Moody or a Tim Nielsen."