Darren Lehmann reveals his emotional struggle after sandpaper gate

Darren Lehmann claimed that the under-fire Cricket Australia could have done more to support him

The infamous sandpaper gate has shown Australia Cricket its worst days recently. The scandal restricted some of the finest cricketers – Steve Smith and David Warner – from serving their country on the international platform. It also didn’t spare head coach Darren Lehmann who went on to step down from his post despite being cleared of any direct role in the episode.

Months after resigning from his post, Lehmann revealed Wednesday how he has paid a heavy emotional toll over the entire episode and claimed under-fire Cricket Australia could have done more to support him.

“I saw people, and am still seeing people about it. That's a work in progress. I don't think people know how much it affects people behind the scenes, but that's one of those things that you go through. The help of family and close friends got me through,” said Lehmann.

Lehmann has gone through some dark times since his life was turned upside down by the incident in the third Test against South Africa in March. He had to receive counselling to overcome those bitter memories.

“For me, it was okay. It was a tough time and you had bad days and good days and I'm sure all those other three blokes (players) had worse days. You just hope they get the right help, everyone gets the right help when they need it. There could have been more help but they certainly didn't just leave us hanging either,” he said.

Lehmann, who will be behind the microphone for Australia's first one-day international against South Africa in Perth on Sunday, said the governing body offered psychological support "but you could always have more, can't you?"

Lehmann was hailed as a saviour when he took over in 2013 and led Australia to a 5-0 sweep in the 2013-2014 Ashes Test series against old rivals England. But he has since been accused by critics of overseeing a toxic team culture that damaged the reputation of the famed Baggy Green cap.

An independent review that CA commissioned, released Monday, slammed its "arrogant" and "controlling" culture leading up to the tampering furore, triggering calls for chairman David Peever to quit.

But Lehmann refuted a section of the review that claimed players had "abused" their own staff on match days. There was also a damning assessment of what was described as a bully-boy culture in the dressing room.