Justin Langer makes secret trip to support Tim Paine on eve of The Ashes

As Alex Carey moves closer to being named Tim Paine’s replacement, Aussie coach Justin Langer has rushed to support his former skipper.

Justin Langer and former Australia captain Tim Paine in January.

Australian coach Justin Langer made a secret dash to Hobart on Tuesday to visit his former captain Tim Paine.

Fox Cricket revealed Langer used his first day of freedom after two weeks of hotel quarantine to go down and lend support to Paine who has been struggling in the wake of his resignation from the Australian team.

Langer never wanted Paine to quit over the sexting scandal and is known to be upset at the 36-year-old’s treatment over the past fortnight.

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Justin Langer has flown to Tasmania to support Tim Paine.

The pair share a tight bond having combined in the wake of the Sandpapergate scandal in mid-2018.

Langer has shown the care he has for his players by flying to be with Paine a week out from the first Ashes Test, which the wicketkeeper has withdrawn from.

Last week in the Herald Sun, Paine revealed the support he’d received from Langer.

“JL (Justin Langer) told me he’s devastated,” Paine said.

“He was pretty firm that he wanted me to continue as captain, and again, once I explained to him the reasons that I thought resigning was the best thing to do, he was with me all the way.”

Langer is expected to return to the Australian camp in the next day or two.

West Australians Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Agar were also granted leave to head home to family due to the difficulty for them to see their families over the summer because of the state’s strict border.

It means Inglis is almost certainly out of contention to play in the first Test, with Alex Carey to debut at the Gabba.

The big wet in south east Queensland has affected the preparations of both Australia and England and has lessened the importance of having such a big squad on the Gold Coast.

Inglis, Marsh and Agar will all be back in time to play for Australia A against the England Lions later next week

Originally published as Justin Langer makes secret trip to support Tim Paine on eve of The Ashes