Cricket Australia (CA) boss James Sutherland and players' union counterpart Alistair Nicholson have offered near-identical praise for Darren Lehmann following the coach's shock resignation.
Lehmann stunned colleagues and his players on the eve of Australia's fourth Test against South Africa, revealing it will be his final game in charge.
Some 24 hours prior Lehmann had vowed to stay on, a stance that was supported by CA chief executive Sutherland.
Lehmann was cleared by CA's investigation of the ball-tampering scandal and held a contract until the end of the 2019 Ashes, but the no-nonsense mentor knew it was time to go after watching footage of Steve Smith shed so many tears at Sydney airport.
"I'm ultimately responsible for the culture of the team," Lehmann said, himself repeatedly breaking down.
Sutherland thanked Lehmann for his "fantastic service".
"One of the things that really strikes me about Darren, and his character as a coach, is the way he genuinely cares for and loves his players," Sutherland told reporters.
"I have huge regard and respect for the way he has gone about his job over the time he has been coach of the Australian men's team.
"I have seen first hand the pride in which he has gone about his work. The love he has for the job, his incredible work ethic.
"It has been clearly a difficult week for him and for the players and for everyone involved with the Australian cricket team and Australian cricket more broadly."
Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Nicholson has rowed with Sutherland over a range of issues - most recently CA's response to the ball-tampering saga.
The head of the players' union, who has been in Cape Town and Johannesburg during the past week does, however, share his counterpart's admiration of Lehmann.
"Shattered about Darren Lehmann," Nicholson posted on Twitter.
"Former ACA President and a bloke who genuinely cares for the game and its players. We will miss you as coach Boof."
Lehmann started as national coach after Mickey Arthur's sacking on the eve of the 2013 Ashes, a change prompted by David Warner clipping English cricketer Joe Root in a Birmingham bar.
Lehmann's tenure finished amid another Warner misdeed, with CA claiming the former vice-captain was the architect of the side's plan to cheat.
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