Matt Deighton: Langer was obviously not a bloke who would ever tread water

Justin Langer wasn’t perfect but show me a leader in a high pressure role who is, writes Matt Deighton.

I walked into the Australian Cricket Academy at the Del Monte in the early 90s, the lucky recipient of a country cricket scholarship.

The first person I saw was a young kid lying on the couch who looked about 14 and had come straight off the nearby Henley Beach. “Matt,” I said and thrust out my hand. “Rick” he said in response.

The next person that walked through I did recognise, mainly from a debut Test in the 92-93 season where he was battered and bruised by the West Indies at Adelaide Oval but survived with a gutsy 54

So began my first experience with Justin Langer, then in his early 20s, who has returned to the academy in a coaching/leadership role having missed an Ashes berth (he didn’t seem too worried about it, seemed more happy about his close mate Damien Martyn getting a go. “Plus a pair in New Zealand made it tough,” he’d laugh).

I introduced myself, he looked me straight in the eye and gave me a handshake that rocked my body. I liked him instantly.

Former Australian men's cricket coach Justin Langer prior to the Men's Big Bash League match between the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers at Marvel Stadium on January 28. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Referred to by his academy colleagues as “King”, he was pretty much as you’d expect and others could write far more about it than I. At the front of every drill, pushing himself harder, encouraging his mates, accepting no excuses. Likewise he was always upbeat and friendly. Never arrogant.

But it wasn’t through cricket I got to know him just a little. “King” was writing a column for one of the local Messenger papers (which I would ironically go on to edit many years later) and was keen to know how to get better. He knew I’d had a few years under my belt as a reporter in Melbourne and gave me some of his columns for feedback. I gave him some simple tips, “drop the adjectives mate, they’re never any good”, “get this up higher, just say what you f—- mean.” And he listened and listened. This was obviously not a bloke who would ever tread water.

One day on a drive back to the Del Monte, we passed a pub in the city. “I’d love to own one of those one day,” Langer said.

“But hopefully after I’ve played 100 Tests.”

We’d never have guessed it at the time – he’d take more than five years to crack back into the Test team – but he’d go on to play precisely 105 tests and become one of our great openers in the process. I’m not sure if he ever bought a pub.

Head coach Justin Langer with the Australian team after winning the Fifth Test in the Ashes series in Hobart, Australia. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

As coach he rebuilt a culture and took the team to the top of the world. He wasn’t perfect – players complained about his volatility – but please find me a leader in a highly pressurised job who is.

Through it all, he was on a continuing journey of self-improvement, picking any brains he could find, meeting with experts, reading voraciously, listening to feedback, admitting vulnerability and seeking to evolve. Whether people “liked” him or not (is popularity a KPI these days?) he brought the best out of the people around him.

More leaders should be like him.

Matt Deighton is a former very average grade cricketer and editor of The Advertiser and Hobart Mercury. He now edits SA Weekend.