Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann has made the rare double announcement that he has extended his contract through to 2019, and that he will leave the post after that contract is concluded: a decision made three years in advance.

Lehmann's new contract will therefore end with the long trip to England for the 2019 50-over World Cup followed by that year's Ashes tour.

"I'm obviously really happy with that," a beaming Lehmann told reporters in Galle, ahead of Australia's second Test match against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday.

"The board have actually seen that we are doing OK, as such, barring yesterday's result in the Test [loss to Sri Lanka in Kandy], but looking forward to the next few years in charge and hopefully getting some wins in the sub-continent, first and foremost on the agenda."

Happiness notwithstanding, the former Australian middle-order batsman confirmed this would be his last contract extension, after his earlier press release emphasised the difficulty of spending so much time away from his family.

"I would think it would be, yeah," he said confidently.

"As I've always said, it's the best job in the world. I love the job. But it's a job you can't do forever either."

At the moment, his focus is on getting back into this Sri Lanka series after an upset loss, one that especially came as a shock after Australia skittled Sri Lanka for 117 in their first innings.

Team unity ... Lehmann greets David Warner's daughter, Ivy Mae. ( Getty Images: Scott Barbour )

"Probably the spinning ball on the subcontinent, you would think," was his answer regarding his team's biggest challenge.

"A lot has been made of the England swinging ball but we won a couple of Test matches this time, albeit we lost the Ashes and the wickets they produced were very seam-friendly.

"For us, it is probably more the subcontinent conditions, getting prepared for that with the next two Test matches here and then India [in early 2017]."

But he said he did not believe his legacy would ultimately be judged on Australia's efforts in Asia.

"You're judged on results most of the time all around the world," he said.

"You've got to play well and win a lot of games of cricket. That's what players have to do, that's what coaches have to do in any sport ... For us, we just have to get better playing in all conditions."

'Probably hit the ball more', wise coach Lehmann says

That starts in the second Test in Galle, on a pitch renowned for sharp turn, at a ground where Sri Lanka has dominated visiting sides, but where Australia won in 2004 and 2011. That earlier win was thanks in large part to Lehmann's second-innings mastery of Muttiah Muralidaran in making 129.

So, what can he pass on to batsmen who struggled against left-arm orthodox spinner Rangana Herath and wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan?

"Probably hit the ball more and not get LBW for a start," Lehmann said.

"I can't remember a better preparation. I know that sounds a bit silly when you get bowled out for 200 and 160. I think the batters are in a really good space, probably their decision-making wasn't up to scratch.

"We had starts but no-one [went] on with it, we had partnerships but no-one had a big one, which is something we have done really well in the last 12 months."

"Now they have seen Sandakan, it's going to be a lot easier to play him, and Herath is obviously a very quality bowler.

"The disappointing thing was we gave up a big lead. We should've made more runs in the first innings. We let them off the hook there. The positive was we got 20 wickets again. If we keep getting 20 wickets, it gives you a good chance if you're making runs to win games of cricket. It gets down to just the execution against their spinners really."

Leaders of the pack ... Captain Steve Smith and coach Darren Lehmann. ( Getty Images: Ryan Pierse )

Even through the disappointment of that loss, Lehmann's underlying love of cricket shone through. When asked about Kusal Mendis' 175, the outlier innings that stole the game from Australia, he could not help but smile.

"I know you shouldn't say this as an opposition coach but it was actually very good to watch, and very good for our players to watch and learn a little bit," Lehmann said.

"He played very well, took the game to us and played to his strengths and played the conditions really well. It was a good innings to watch for his first Test hundred. I wish he didn't get that many but that's the way it is."

That enjoyment may be tested if Sri Lanka dominates again this week in Galle, but the ebullience from the Australian camp suggests the visitors will also come out firing. And even if it all goes to pot, at least Lehmann knows that in three more years he can kick back and enjoy watching cricket like the rest of us.