Cricket 2021: All the latest news on the state of the Australian team and coach Justin Langer

Justin Langer’s time almost up, but when should the Australian cricket coach walk away? Former captain Ian Chappell has his say on the Road to the Ashes podcast.

Ian Chappell believes it will be difficult for Justin Langer to change his style or regain lost ground with the players while an experienced English voice said a coach must know his place.

Speaking on Fox Cricket’s Road To The Ashes podcast, Chappell sensed Langer’s stint as Australian cricket coach would most likely end when his four-year term wound up after this summer’s Ashes series as he battles unrest among his senior players.

“It’s going to be hard for Langer to recover the lost ground and very difficult for Justin to drastically change his coaching style,’’ former Test skipper Chappell said.

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Justin Langer is under pressure to hold his place as the Australian coach. Picture: AAP

“The fact that so much information is coming from the camp is not a good sign. Really the best way to sort it out was to sit around – the whole group - have a beer and say ‘right what it is you don’t like? Sort it out. That is what they should have done.

“It always helps if you are winning. When you start losing leaks happen and people get aggravated. Winning can solve a lot of problems.

“I think Justin can last out the Ashes but whether he goes any further than that I would be doubtful.’’

Former English batsman turned commentator David Lloyd, while not specifically identifying Langer, said there was a dangerous trend in modern coaching for the coach to think he should have more say than the captain.

“You get one or two coaches these days who would feel they are in charge of it,’’ Lloyd told the podcast

“I am not necessarily liking that. I would rather have the captain in charge of the team … he builds the culture of the team. The coach and the staff just work the team.

Ian Chappell (L) believes Justin Langer will struggle to change his style in order to stay coach of Australia. Picture: Aaron Francis

“If he is one of those leaders who thinks ‘I have got to do it my way’ … I am a bit old school. I would see my job when I did it in the 1990s in support of Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton as a facilitator. I was not there to dictate tactics. That was the captain’s job. The captain takes the team on the field. He is the boss.

“When you have a captain and senior players they run the side. You would not have got this with Ricky Ponting and Ian Chappell. They would run the team. But it depends on what type of lad he (Langer) is.

“If he is the type of guy who is confrontational with senior players he has a problem. You (the coach) sits in the background. We have one now Chris Silverwood. He has people under him who work the team do the practices and the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.

“If you have this modern coaching method where “this is my team’ I think you have a big problem.’’

Shock contender emerges as Langer replacement

By Robert Craddock

Every cricket era leaves its mark on the one which follows it and so too will Justin Langer’s turbulent reign influence the choice and role of Australia’s next cricket coach.

Langer has been backed by senior power brokers to complete the fourth and final year of his Australian contract which includes this year’s T20 World Cup and the Ashes but it has been a brutal year for the coach there has been no suggestion his contract will be extended into a fifth year.

Should he win the World Cup and Ashes that may change but there is also a feeling that four years is the right length for a coach of high intensity who, for all the recent drama around him, did the job he was initially hired to do.

Trevor Bayliss (L) steered England to great success as head coach in recent years. Picture: Getty

There is already a strong NSW-based push for the experienced Trevor Bayliss to replace Langer when his term ends though Victoria’s Andrew McDonald remains a slight favourite.

There is a chance both could be offered roles if the job is split between red and white ball formats, a long-time suggestion of former coach Darren Lehmann.

When appointing a coach Australia often addresses the lingering issues of the era which has just past.

Lehmann was brought in to restore team harmony after the Mickey Arthur era while Langer was seen as the hard-nosed agent of change needed to restore ethical credibility after Sandpapergate.

Because Langer has been so intense the obvious follow-up will be to choose some-one more relaxed.

Assistant coach Andrew McDonald remains a warm favourite to replace Langer when his term ends. Picture: AAP

Calmness under pressure is one of Bayliss’ most obvious credentials and one which landed him the biggest role of his career – coaching England between 2015-2019.

English cricket boss Andrew Strauss was at home in England watching the Bayliss-coached Kolkata Knight Riders get ready for a super over after a tied Indian Premier League match when the sight of Bayliss sitting nervelessly in his seat while everyone else seemed flustered impressed him.

He knew then Bayliss had the temperament to handle the relentless inquisition which goes with the English coaching job.

If McDonald is appointed head coach the thought of Bayliss as a white ball mentor is appealing because he has had exceptional success as a title winning coach for the Sydney Sixes in the Big Bash, the Knight Riders and England in the last 50 over World Cup.

It is also to Bayliss’ favour that he could be of great support to McDonald because while McDonald, 40, is on the way up, Bayliss, 58, is nearing the end of his career and is by no means trying to fight his way up the ladder.

Bayliss said this year the only international team he would consider coaching is Australia.

Mind guru: Why Justin Langer has to adapt to survive

A mind guru who worked with Australian cricket teams when Justin Langer was a player believes Langer the coach must conquer a challenge which has tormented many of his hard-nosed contemporaries.

It is simply finding the ability to transition into a sensitive new age as a coach after being raised in a bare-knuckled era as a player.

Langer has been under increased pressure from an unsettled group of players who took umbrage at his old fashioned intensity.

Performance psychologist Phil Jauncey, who worked with Australia cricket sides during the John Buchanan coaching era and a string of major sporting teams, said adaptability was the key.

“I wouldn’t say it is a softer environment since Justin played but it’s different,’’ Jauncey said.

“The good coaches have changed and keep adapting. Wayne Bennett coaches differently to when he started because the environment has changed.’’

Sports psychologist Phil Jauncey has been involved with some of the biggest sporting organisations in the country, including the Brisbane Broncos.

When Langer started his career there was no such thing as Twenty20 cricket, the highest paid Australian cricketer was Allan Border on an underwhelming $90,000 a year and Australian teams had one coach and very few support staff.

Nor was there any such thing as a concussion rule in the days when Langer once tried to bat in a Test in Johannesburg after a serious head knock despite warnings he could be killed.

Jauncey believes these changes have brought challenges for Langer plus less conspicuous ones such as the impact of modern technology.

“The world has changed with more instant gratification. You want something you Google it.

“The big thing about players coming through is that they are not used to being told to make an investment and bide their time and improve. Langer has to deal with that now.

“When Langer came through he would have to accept total responsibility for the way he played and trained but this is a different era where players don’t always have to accept consequences or there is someone they can get in support from to make them feel better.

Justin Langer (middle) has found unlikely support from Usman Khawaja (left) as pressure mounts on his job. Picture: Getty Images

“The other big thing in cricket is that the Cricket Australia used to be their (sole) boss and if you didn’t perform you didn’t get any money. Now (through T20 leagues) they have so many employers. So many things have changed since Justin started in cricket.’’

Jauncey said he was not familiar with the details of the players’ issues with Langer but said an essential ingredient in successful coaching was convincing the players he was working in their best interests.

“It is really hard to build a relationship and easy to lose one — it doesn’t take much. The best coaches have a way of convincing players they are working for the player and not themselves.’’

Originally published as Cricket 2021: All the latest news on the state of the Australian team and coach Justin Langer