The Ashes 2019: Justin Langer reveals how Headingley defeat left him feeling ‘physically sick’

Steve Smith will be back but Justin Langer has hinted that Aussie changes could go beyond the return of the former skipper when Ashes hostilities resume at Old Trafford on Wednesday night (EST).

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Aussie coach Justin Langer couldn’t rule out more than one change for Wednesday’s fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

Langer said the seven days since the heartbreaking defeat at Leeds were among the toughest of his career and spirits had to be lifted before he could turn his attention to crucial selections for the defining clash at Old Trafford.

Langer was hoping to get closer to confirming any changes in a late Sunday meeting with chief selector Trevor Hohns and captain Tim Paine.

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Steve Smith will be back but the rest of the Aussie batting order is up in the air.

Steve Smith comes in, but the outs could grow beyond one as Langer tries to find the “best solution” to win in Manchester and retain the Ashes they had one hand on a week ago.

“The last week of coaching has probably been one of the most challenging weeks of my coaching career after what happened at Leeds,” Langer said.

"Everyone in that change room, probably a lot of Australians felt it, felt completely sick after that. I actually felt physically sick, and then I went back to my room, I wasn't sure whether to cry my eyes out or smash my hotel room.

“When so much goes into something … it means a lot.

“That was the biggest part of losing last week, that we felt we were so close and we let it slip. You never like to let opportunities slip in your life.

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“All those things you can’t ignore but you have to find solutions for how we win the next Test match and that’s the exciting part of coaching.”

The convincing tour match win over Derbyshire gave Langer confidence the players were back “up”.

“They were all together, they trained together, sometimes it can become a bit fractured. It's not going to be fractured here for the next few weeks.”

Langer said he was a fan of “continuity” in selection, but knew one of Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, or even Matthew Wade had to make way for Smith.

Bowling changes are unlikely, but with names like Mitchell Starc and even Mitchell Marsh being spoken about, the coach said nothing could be ruled out.

“You don't like to make too many changes as a rule,” he said.

“You're always looking to have the best possible team you can, if it means making some changes you've got to make changes.”

Hohns suggested England’s success against Australia’s left handed batsmen, with four then five in the top six in the first three Tests, could make injecting another right-hander a consideration.

But with Smith returning, and Marnus Labuschagne also locked in after three half-centuries in a row, Langer wasn’t convinced that was necessary.

“My view has always been that the best players will adapt and should adapt, it doesn't matter whether you're left or right handed. If they can't then they shouldn't be in the side,” he said.

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Justin Langer said the Headingley loss was the toughest of his coaching career.

Our boys have to be on top of their games, left or right handed.”

LEFT V RIGHT

Left-handers

David Warner – 79 runs @ 13

Marcus Harris – 27 runs @ 13.5

Usman Khawaja – 122 runs @ 20

Travis Head – 160 runs @ 32

Matthew Wade - 151 runs @ 25

Right handers

Steve Smith - 378 runs @ 126

Marnus Labuschagne - 213 runs @ 71

Cameron Bancroft - 44 runs @ 11

Mitch Marsh – yet to play

Originally published as The Ashes 2019: Justin Langer reveals how Headingley defeat left him feeling ‘physically sick’