Darren Lehmann Urges Fans to Make Broad 'Cry' — Ashes 2013

The 2013 Ashes series in England had produced one of cricket's most controversial moments of the decade: Stuart Broad edging a delivery from Peter Siddle to Michael Clarke at slip at Trent Bridge and standing his ground as the catch was taken. The TV replays showed an unmistakable edge. Broad knew he had hit it. But he did not walk.

Under cricket's laws, a batsman is not required to walk — the decision rests with the umpire, who did not give it out. Broad remained at the crease and went on to score 65, a contribution that was crucial in England building a first-innings lead. England won the Test and eventually the series 3-0.

The reaction in Australia was volcanic. The concept of "walking" — a batsman voluntarily departing when he knows he is out before the umpire's decision — has long been a point of ethical debate in cricket. Australia had long had a culture in which players were expected to walk in some circumstances. Broad's non-walk was seen as an act of dishonesty that defined the series.

By the time the 2013-14 Ashes series was approaching, Broad's Trent Bridge non-walk had become Australia's dominant Ashes grievance. Players, commentators, and fans in Australia returned to it repeatedly. The wound had not healed.

Darren Lehmann had been appointed Australia's coach in June 2013, taking over from Mickey Arthur mid-series. He was a combative, no-nonsense figure who was determined to restore Australia's aggressive cricketing culture. When asked about Broad in an Australian radio interview in August 2013, he gave vent to feelings that were presumably shared by many in the Australian camp.

Lehmann said he hoped Australian crowds would give Broad "such a difficult time" that Broad would "want to go home and cry." The comments were broadcast and quickly circulated internationally.

After Stuart Broad refused to walk when he clearly edged a catch during the 2013 Ashes in England — a moment that infuriated Australians — Australian coach Darren Lehmann made incendiary comments on radio. Lehmann said he hoped Australian crowds would give Broad such a hostile reception during the return Ashes in Australia that Broad would "want to go home and cry."

The comments were widely criticised as irresponsible, with many arguing that a national coach should not be encouraging crowd abuse directed at an individual player. Lehmann was fined by the ICC for his comments, which were deemed likely to incite hostile behaviour.

When the Ashes moved to Australia later that year, Broad did indeed receive extraordinarily hostile treatment from Australian crowds, with booing every time he touched the ball. However, Broad thrived on the hostility and bowled well in patches during the series. The incident highlighted the fine line between competitive rivalry and encouraging personal abuse, and raised questions about the responsibilities of coaches in maintaining standards of behaviour.

“I hope Australian fans give him such a hard time that he wants to go home and cry.”

“The umpire didn't give me out. I play within the laws of the game. That's what every professional does.”

“Darren has acknowledged his comments were inappropriate. A one-match ban and fine has been imposed.”

“The booing made me want to bowl better. If anything, it fired me up.”

Lehmann was charged by the ICC and received a one-match ban along with a fine. He later expressed regret for the comments, acknowledging they were inappropriate for a national coach. The ICC's intervention was designed to prevent coaches from inciting crowd behaviour against individual players.

When the series moved to Australia, Broad was greeted with sustained booing. Every boundary he fielded, every wicket he took, every appearance at the crease was met with hostility from the crowd. Rather than being intimidated, Broad appeared to feed off the atmosphere. He bowled with aggression and took wickets; his batting was limited in the series but he showed no signs of the psychological collapse Lehmann had hoped for.

Australia won the series 5-0, but Lehmann's comments were seen as an embarrassing error of judgement that had made him and Australia look petty.