Ashes: Darren Lehmann to step down as Australia coach after 2019 Ashes in England

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Darren Lehmann and Australia captain Steve SmithImage source, Getty Images
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Australia won the Ashes under Lehmann on home soil in 2013-14, and have already clinched the 2017-18 series

Australia v England, fourth Ashes Test

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground Dates: 26-30 December (23:30 GMT, 25-29 Dec)

Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

Australia coach Darren Lehmann will step down from his post after the 2019 Ashes series in England.

The 47-year-old had said in August 2016, when extending his contract until 2019, that he would be unlikely to continue beyond that point.

And he has now told Fox Sports:, external "That will be it. It will be a case of too much time, too much travel."

Lehmann played 27 Tests and 117 one-day internationals for Australia, taking over as national coach in 2013.

Australia will be in the UK for almost the entire summer of 2019. They will play a one-day international series before England host the World Cup, which is set to run until mid-July, before Australia attempt to defend the Ashes urn and win a Test series on English soil for the first time since 2001.

Lehmann replaced Mickey Arthur as coach shortly before the 2013 Ashes, but despite losing that series 3-0, the Aussies romped to a 5-0 success down under in 2013-14.

England regained the urn with a 3-2 home win in 2015, but Australia already hold an unassailable 3-0 lead in the current series.

Lehmann also led Australia to victory in the 2015 World Cup, beating their co-hosts New Zealand in the final, while another notable series win under his command was a 2-1 Test success in South Africa in 2014.

"For me, I've really enjoyed the role and [am] loving it. We'll just get to that point and work out what we do from there," he added.

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