Cricket Australia coaching succession plan will remain despite Andrew McDonald uncertainty

Regardless of whether Andrew McDonald returns to the BBL or not, Cricket Australia’s plan to succeed coach Justin Langer remains unchanged.

Michael Klinger has resigned as Renegades head coach. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Cricket Australia’s succession plan for coach Justin Langer would almost certainly remain in place even if key lieutenant Andrew McDonald walked out on the national set up to return to Melbourne Renegades.

Australia’s Test stars have turned to McDonald in recent times and losing him would be a significant change to the dynamic ahead of next summer’s home Ashes series.

But McDonald wouldn’t be lost to the Australian landscape, and CA would still be expected to turn to its own backyard when the time comes to replace Langer, who is contracted until midway through 2022.

Whether McDonald is employed by CA or CV when Langer departs, the Victorian would still be a short-priced favourite to take the reins – should he want that extra responsibility – given how respected he has become.

McDonald’s young family welcomed a new baby last week and so stepping away from the demands of the national team could provide some relief.

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Andrew McDonald could make a return to the Melbourne Renegades. Picture: Alan Barber

McDonald is currently in a deep planning phase for the Indian Premier League draft and The Hundred, where he coaches Rajasthan Royals and Birmingham Phoenix respectively.

He will fly to New Zealand without Langer next week as Australia’s senior coach for the five-match Twenty20 series.

Renegades would desperately love McDonald, their BBL08 championship-winning coach, to return to the club after two wooden-spoon seasons since he left.

The Gades have already received several expressions of interest in the highly-sought after coaching position, which was vacated by Michael Klinger on Tuesday.

There is global interest in the job as T20 coaches from around the world hope to crack in to CA’s well-run tournament.

But Cricket Victoria will spend the next two weeks completing season reviews for Renegades and Stars and focusing on the Sheffield Shield return.

Justin Langer’s coaching methods have been brought into the spotlight recently. Picture: Patrick Hamilton/AFP

They will not look to make a Renegades coaching appointment until late March.

McDonald is due to return from New Zealand that month, with the T20 series finishing in Tauranga on March 7.

“At this point in time he’s still contracted to Cricket Australia, and there hasn’t been any indication he’s going to change that,” CV boss Shaun Graf said.

Coaching franchises in the BBL, IPL and The Hundred without the pressure of helping lead Australia’s men’s team could appeal to McDonald’s young family.

CA boss Nick Hockley said on Wednesday that Langer had his “full support” on Wednesday.

“But of course, we will always monitor performance,” Hockley said.

“This last series, as with every series, we’ll look to debrief and see how we can get better.”

Hockley said he was unaware that McDonald was being targeted by one of his states.

“I think he’s doing a great job with the squad. He’s got this tour coming up, I’m sure he’s very focused on that,” he said.

“I’m not aware of any other discussions. I know he’ll be very focused on this five-match series in New Zealand.”

RENEGADES’ CHEEKY PLAY TO POACH LANGER WINGMAN

Justin Langer’s right-hand man is being targeted by Cricket Victoria amid grumblings of disharmony in the Australian dressing room.

Melbourne Renegades have made an audacious play to win back Andrew McDonald, their Big Bash League-winning coach, in a bombshell move that would shape as a big blow for Langer.

McDonald, 39, has grown increasingly popular among players in the Australian camp for his calm and approachable style and tactical prowess.

The former Test all-rounder has been viewed as the heir apparent to Langer ever since Langer poached him in 2019, when he served as Victoria’s Sheffield Shield coach and Renegades coach.

Cricket Australia was so desperate to secure McDonald that it broke with convention and allowed him to retain coaching positions at IPL franchise Rajastahan Royals and The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix in addition to his role assisting Langer.

McDonald is close mates Aaron Finch, who captains the Renegades, and they will fly to New Zealand together on Monday as coach and captain of Australia’s Twenty20 squad, as McDonald considers his future.

While Renegades’ interest in their much-loved former coach is more optimistic than realistic, it points to the widespread belief that all is not well in the Australian camp.

Sources in the red camp confirmed that a phone call to McDonald was certain to be made in the wake of coach Michael Klinger taking a job a Cricket NSW, which was revealed by News Corp on Tuesday, after walking away from the Renegades with a season remaining on his Big Bash contract.

Michael Klinger has stood down as Melbourne Renegades coach.

Should McDonald decline the Renegades’ advances then Cameron White’s potential return to Victorian cricket could open up.

Victoria’s longest-serving captain has been such a revelation as an assistant at Adelaide that Strikers coach Jason Gillespie has a job at South Australia’s Cricket Association lined up for him.

But with White’s family in Melbourne a return home would be a dream result for the clever tactician who worked closely with Test squad members Alex Carey and Travis Head last month, who both captained Adelaide.

White’s T20 cricket brain has long been regarded as one of the best in Australian cricket and he has learnt from some of the best coaches, including McDonald, Greg Shipperd, David Saker and, as a youngster, the late David Hookes.

A former Renegades and Stars captain, White’s global experience helped him strike the right balance between overloading Strikers players with information and keeping them relaxed.

Renegades are expected to receive the No. 1 draft pick in next season’s inaugural overseas player draft, helping them relaunch after two disastrous summers marred by poor international signings.

They are set to delist Jon Holland. Beau Webster and boom kid Mackenzie Harvey also fall out of contract.

The steep drop under rookie coach Klinger could encourage the Renegades to chase an experienced coach, such as Saker — who coached the Gades in BBL05 — or Trevor Bayliss, if McDonald says no.

The Renegades could make a play to entice Australian assistant coach Andrew McDonald back to the franchise. Picture: AAP

Bayliss coached England to the 2019 World Cup and applied for the vacant Renegades job later that year, which was won by Klinger.

Finch was on the panel which appointed Klinger and his influential opinion is again likely to be canvassed.

Victorian great Brad Hodge would be another obvious candidate as a former Renegades batsman, who has coached in the Indian Premier League.

Hodge was openly critical of Klinger, who finished with two wooden spoons and a 7-21 record, in his commentary role on Channel 7.

White, 37, played in the Renegades’ BBL08 championship, along with Finch, who remained a staunch public supporter of Klinger and put his hand up for a lot of the blame this season after averaging 13.7.

Youngsters Jake Fraser-McGurk, Zak Evans and Harvey enjoyed breakout matches in the closing stages of the season, giving Klinger’s successor a launching pad for next summer.

“Although the seasons didn’t go to plan, I thoroughly enjoyed my time as head coach and can see a bright future in the coming seasons with such a young and talented group,” Klinger said.

“My new role as head of men’s Cricket with CNSW is an extremely exciting position. I’m looking forward to this great opportunity working with Greg Mail and their senior squads, pathways and Big Bash programs.”