Ashes 2021: Justin Langer perfect man to oversee massive changes to Australia’s Test team

A former teammate of Justin Langer’s believes Australia should be in no rush to discard the coach as an era of massive change looms for the Test team.

26/12/2002. Justin Langer leads Steve Waugh and the English players of the MCG after his 146 not out. Australia v England. Boxing Day Test. MCG. Ashes. Cricket. Digital image.

Ian Healy believes Australia should be in no rush to discard Justin Langer as coach as an era of massive change looms for the Test team.

Former champion Test gloveman Healy believes the bumpy ride Langer has experienced in the past year with a World Cup victory preceded by clear-the-air sessions with players who found his intensity overwhelming, would have been of significant value to Langer’s development as a coach.

“Over the next few years we will have a new captain, new opening batsmen, new keeper, maybe a new spinner and a few new quicks,’’ said Healy, who has been announced as a major commentary voice for SEN radio’s summer of cricket coverage this summer.

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“We have all of that ahead so you will need an experienced person to handle it.

“Justin has been through a whole lot of learning in the last 12 months. I would not be throwing out that experience.

“He has changed the culture after Sandpapergate and now has been told to lighten up a touch and has done it.

“That is incredible experience and should not be wasted. It looks to me like he is happier and less involved and left it more up to the senior players to run the team more.

Coach Justin Langer address the Australian cricket team. Picture: AAP/Kelly Barnes

“If Justin has found a method that has appealed to his captain and the senior players but has also got the experience of dealing with new players I think we should use that experience.

“It looks like he has lightened the reins a bit which makes staying around a lot easier.

“My thinking is we might need him but it does depend on what he thinks. He might have had enough whether he is successful; or not, this summer.’’

Langer’s four year contract ends after the Ashes. It was considered a near formality he would part with the team before the World Cup win which was most unexpected and now clouds his future in a positive way.

Justin Langer (L) hugs Ian Healy.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood said Langer had taken a back seat during the Cup and the players had taken more responsibility.

The Australian team is set to change substantially over the next few years with skipper Tim Paine, 36, likely to retire after the Ashes.

World Cup man of the tournament David Warner, 35, might well elect to become a white ball specialist in the final few years of his career though the cherished 100-Test milestone (he has played 86) is close enough to entice him to stay with the five-day game.

Pat Cummins looms as Australia’s next Test captain with Healy supporting the decision despite the fact that historically Australia has always felt fast men have too much on their plates to steer the ship as well.

“If he is willing to give it a go I would be happy to give him a go. Tim Paine came fresh out of nowhere and did a good job. Someone who has a big workload like Pat but is mastering his workload has got the capacity to think about others.

“While we get a longer term more palatable type Pat could do the job but we don’t know who the long term captain is yet. Will it be Marnus (Labuschagne) or Travis Head? Mitchell Marsh? Who know? Whoever it is needs to put in a couple of years of very consistent results.’’

Tugger goes to war for Langer

- Ben Horne

Steve Waugh says Justin Langer has never once indicated any intention of standing down as Australian coach, setting up an intriguing contract negotiation after the Ashes.

One of Langer’s closest confidants, Waugh says it’s just not in the nature of his most tenacious former teammate to “back away from a challenge.”

Langer’s current four-year contract expires after the March tour of Pakistan and Cricket Australia has confirmed no discussions about whether the coach will be granted an extension will be had until after the Ashes.

Steve Waugh was the Aussie team mentor when Australia won The Ashes in 2019.

Former Test captain Michael Clarke said he feels Langer may walk away after a triumphant Ashes, but perhaps the person who knows him better than anyone in cricket doubts that’s the case.

“I talk to him regularly and he has never talked to me about stepping down or backing away from a challenge,” said Waugh, who on Wednesday launched his vibrant ‘Spirit of Cricket’ photography exhibition at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Sydney.

“His whole career he was up against it. He was always a player on the edge. The next one to be dropped, and ‘will he get into the side?’

“He is used to being on the edge and I think in a lot of ways it motivates him.

“You see it again, when you think he is down, he just comes back and succeeds. That’s just in his nature.

“Looking forward to the Ashes, that is one of the highlights for a captain and coach to win it. He would be focusing on that. I haven’t heard him talk about not continuing on, he’s up for the challenge.”

Waugh said Langer would be undaunted by the pressure of coming off contract and bosses holding out on making a decision on his future after criticism from within the playing group about his coaching style preceded an incredible turnaround to win the World Cup.

Waugh says there is far too much emphasis placed on the coach.

“He would see it as no different to the players,” said Waugh.

“The players can reneogiate every year and he would see it as the same. He’s man enough to realise if you don’t perform you don’t get picked as a player. So it’s exactly the same thing. He knows there are no free rides.

“But I think what he and Tim Paine and Aaron Finch have done since Cape Town has been a pretty amazing transformation. Whilst they haven’t won everything … they have certainly progressed in other ways.”

Waugh spent 17 days in India spending every waking minute of daylight trying to capture the country’s rich spirit of cricket.

The result is stunning and Waugh said the achievement of releasing a coffee table book of his own photographs, as well as opening his own exhibition, felt as significant to him as scoring a Test match hundred.

“I surprised myself with the end product. The quality was beyond my wildest expectations. When I look around, I didn’t know I could do it,” said Waugh.

“It’s a bit like a game of cricket and being captain, you’ve got to set the photo up, wait for the moment, see what’s going on around you, and when you see the moment no one else sees, try and capture it.”

Waugh and Langer produced something special against the Poms at the MCG in 2002.

Waugh said there’s been far too much attention put on Langer’s role in the team’s results, and insists it should have been the players all along taking responsibility for winning and losing.

“I would like to think the players take responsibility for winning or losing, not the coach,” he said.

“When I played cricket, sure you had the coach, but you have to take responsibility for winning and losing. You’re the one out there for six hours a day playing Tests, not the coach. I think there’s been far too much emphasis on Justin Langer’s performance and not the players.

“Realistically India last season, they should have won that series comfortably. India were missing all their stars. We bowled them out for 36 in Adelaide and to lose from there I don’t think you can point the finger and say that’s the coach’s fault. The players have to step up and take more responsibility.”

Test careers revived as Australia names 15-man Ashes squad

- Russell Gould

The “calm, consistent and experienced component” veteran batter Usman Khawaja brings was key in his inclusion in a 15-man Australian squad picked for the first two Ashes Tests.

Khawaja, spinner Mitchell Swepson and comeback fast bowler Jhye Richardson headline the squad which selection chairman George Bailey said would be reassessed after the first two clashes with England.

Travis Head has retained his spot in the squad and is set to go head-to-head with Khawaja for a place in the middle-order after Marcus Harris was given the nod as opener.

World Cup hero Mitch Marsh was included in an 11-man Australia A squad with all players set to push their case for selection for the third Ashes Test and beyond.

Usman Khawaja is in line to make a stunning return to the Test team. Picture: Getty

Khawaja, 34, played the last of his 44 Tests in the unforgettable Ashes clash at Headingley in 2019 and has crushed back-to-back centuries for Queensland already this Sheffield Shield season to stamp his class.

Bailey said he was in “great touch” after two Sheffield Shield centuries for Queensland this season and was a proven run-scorer at Test level.

“He brings a calm, consistent and experienced component to the batting line up and is a proven run scorer at Test level. He also has the ability to bat across a range of positions in the batting order,” he said.

“After an extended break between Test matches we are looking to build a strong squad mentality across what is an incredibly exciting summer of cricket.

Tim Michell is joined by cricket journos Ben Horne and Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock to review Australia’s World T20 win over New Zealand and discuss what it means for The Ashes.

“This group is well balanced to ensure we are prepared for the many challenges of an Ashes Series. It has a mix of experienced, proven performers and emerging, developing talent.

“We will take this 15-player squad into the opening Test in Brisbane and the pink ball match in Adelaide, after which we can reassess for the remaining matches.”

Bailey said Harris and Head had reinforced their most recent selection on the South African tour, while Richardson’s focus on longer form cricket had paid dividends for the West Australian fast bowler.

“Jhye is seeing the rewards of concentrating on his red ball cricket in the build up to this series. We know he has an exceptional skill set and are excited about what he brings to the team now his body is back on track,” he said.

Travis Head is also in the mix for a Test recall. Picture: Getty

“Marcus has been a consistent run scorer domestically and had a strong winter further developing his game with Leicestershire. He is a good player who will be looking to build a strong partnership with David Warner at the top of the order.

“Travis finished last summer strongly, second only to Cameron Green for runs scored, and has again started the season well. He drives the game forward and can put the opposition under pressure with his ability to score quickly.”

Former Test captain Steve Waugh said Head “deserves a chance” in the middle order after being in and out of the team over recent series.

Fast bowler Michael Neser has returned to training following a minor hamstring strain to retain his place in the squad. Neser has been part of the Test squads for a number of series and continues to lead the Queensland attack with strong domestic performances.

Squad members from victorious T20 Men’s World Cup campaign have returned to the Gold Coast and will be joined by their teammates soon.

Matthew Wade was the only member of the last Test side not to be included in either squad, but had already declared his “ship had sailed” when it came to wearing a baggy green cap again despite still playing white-ball cricket for Australia.

Australia celebrates after retaining the Ashes in England in 2019. Picture: Getty

Australia has not played a Test match since the series-ending loss to India at the Gabba in January and captain Tim Paine is yet to play his first game of cricket since April having undergone serious neck surgery in September.

Paine will make his playing return for his club side in Tasmania this weekend before heading to Brisbane to join the squad.

The first red-ball exposure for the bulk of the Test squad will be in a three-day centre-wicket practice session between the man Ashes squad and the extended group starting December 1.

Those secondary players will then go on to represent Australia A in a four-day match against England Lions, also in Brisbane.

South Australian opener Henry Hunt and Alex Carey, Victoria’s Nic Maddinson and Scott Boland and Queenslanders Matt Renshaw, Mark Steketee and Bryce Street were among those in the secondary group, along with WA’s Josh Inglis and Ashton Agar.

Despite his bold showing, and growing support for a Test recall, it would have been hard for Marsh to displace incumbent Cameron Green who has a first-class average of 54 and impressed in his four Tests last summer.

“I think I‘ll play the three-day game and hopefully the Australia A game, to play a bit of red-ball cricket,” Marsh said after his player-of-the-match performance in Dubai.

“But then I imagine I‘ll be back to the Scorchers for the Big Bash and trying to slog a few.”

Bailey this week expressed caution in picking players based on their performances in another format.

Mitchell Marsh (L) has been overlooked for the Ashes squad for the opening two Tests despite his World Cup heroics. Picture: AFP

South Australian opener Henry Hunt and Alex Carey, Victoria’s Nic Maddinson and Scott Boland and Queenslanders Matt Renshaw, Mark Steketee and Bryce Street were among those in the secondary group, along with WA’s Josh Inglis and Ashton Agar.

Redbacks opener Hunt, is coming off back-to-back Sheffield Shield hundreds for South Australia and sits third on the runs list with 340 at 56.66.

THE SQUADS

Australia:

Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins (vc), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

Additional Australia A players:

Sean Abbott (NSW), Ashton Agar (WA), Scott Boland (VIC), Alex Carey (SA), Henry Hunt (SA), Josh Inglis (WA), Nic Maddinson (VIC), Mitchell Marsh (WA), Matt Renshaw (QLD), Mark Steketee (QLD), Bryce Street (QLD)