Adam Voges says reports attacking Justin Langer’s coaching style are disappointing

Justin Langer took over when Australian cricket was at its lowest point. He might be ‘demanding’ but his style is needed, according to a former player.

Justin Langer’s coaching style is in the spotlight. Picture: Getty Images

Justin Langer’s state-level successor says Australia’s coach is “demanding” – but with good reason, hailing his success at rebuilding what was a broken national team.

Adam Voges, the former Test star who replaced Langer at Western Australia and Perth Scorchers, after captaining the Big Bash League club to back-to-back championships under Langer, labelled reports attacking Langer’s intense style as “disappointing”.

Langer – a dedicated leader who is a stickler for detail and meticulous planning – carefully moulded his style on a selection of old-school and new-age greats, including AFL icons Kevin Sheedy, Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon.

On Langer’s second day as WA coach in 2012 Sheedy told him to write down the names of his best 10 coaches in his journal and list their strengths.

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Tim Paine and Justin Langer before the final Test against India. Picture: Getty Images

That night Langer came up with 16 or 17 coaches, ranging from Warwick Junior’s Alan Abraham through to Australian coaches Bob Simpson and John Buchanan, as he looked to blend their qualities.

Langer, a West Coast board member, also borrowed advice from Eagles premiership coach Adam Simpson to turbocharge Australia’s run to the 2019 World Cup semi-final, emulating Simpson’s focus on role clarity.

That mantra helped Simpson cover superstars Nic Naitanui, Andrew Gaff and Brad Sheppard on the way to the 2018 flag.

Langer and Clarkson have often swapped ideas while Clarkson and Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan attended Australian training before the 2018 Boxing Day Test at the MCG, and Fagan then texted Langer before the 2019 World Cup.

But leaks from unnamed dressing-room agitators have suddenly put the spotlight on Langer, who is on the cusp of his three-year anniversary at the helm since taking over after the sandpaper crisis.

“I think he’s a wonderful coach,” Voges said on Monday.

“He did a terrific job in Western Australia and I think he’s done a wonderful job with the Australian cricket team.

“People forget where Australian cricket was at when JL took over.

“To get to the position that Australian cricket’s in now, he’s done a wonderful job. It’s disappointing to read reports in the newspaper of the sources coming out of that.

“I’ve worked very closely with JL and he brings wonderful strengths as a coach, and he produces results as well.

“It’s disappointing to see those reports.”

Justin Langer’s coaching style is in the spotlight. Picture: Getty Images

Voges said Langer only pushed players hard to help unlock their potential, with mental and physical strength seemingly required to excel under the current set up.

“He’s really strong in his values, he believes in hard work and certainly if you’re a player under JL you certainly work hard,” Voges said.

“He brings a lot of wonderful attributes to being a coach.

“He’s got great integrity. The way that he conducts himself, he leads by example, he demands a lot from his players – and I think the Australian cricket coach should demand a lot from his players.

“He does that to get the best out of his players and you see the results of that.”

Langer still has the journal entry he made after consulting Sheedy.

“That was a brilliant start for me as a coach, because it made me think about what sort of coach I wanted to be,” he told News Corp in 2019.

“I’ve had great mentors and I’ve also been very open to take advice from great mentors. That’s what coaching is about.”

Originally published as Adam Voges says reports attacking Justin Langer’s coaching style are disappointing