Justin Langer in line to help Australian team prepare for Ashes after brushing England job

JUSTIN Langer could be called on to help the Australian team prepare for the Ashes after deciding not to apply for England coaching job and remain in WA.

CRICKET - AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND TEST MATCH AT ADELAIDE OVAL - DAY 2. CRICKETER DARREN LEHMANN AND JUSTIN LANGER ALL SMILES.

JUSTIN Langer says family commitments helped convince him to turn his back on a possible chance to coach England in favour of staying with Western Australia.

And the ambitious Warriors’ mentor is likely to be rewarded for his loyalty with a guest-coaching role for Australia.

Langer announced on Tuesday he had re-signed with Western Australia for a further two years as head coach, in a deal tying him to the Warriors until the end of the 2017/18 season.

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Langer had been linked with the vacant England job and had been mentioned as a possible contender for India’s coaching role.

England’s new director of cricket Andrew Strauss called Langer last week to test his interest in replacing the sacked Peter Moores.

“Last Tuesday Andrew Strauss rung me up,” Langer said.

“We had another conversation on Friday night. And I promised him I’d let him know on Saturday if I was interested in being in the process.

“I told him for lots of reasons I’m going to stay in Perth.”

Ex-Australia quick and Yorkshire mentor Jason Gillespie is the hot favourite to be appointed England’s next coach.

Justin Langer at a meet and greet with Perth Scorchers’ fans.

In the past two seasons Langer has guided Western Australia to second place twice in the Sheffield Shield, plus a one-day domestic title and two BBL triumphs for the Perth Scorchers.

Cricket Australia’s team performance manager Pat Howard said Langer would be a contender for a guest-coaching role similar to the one handed to NSW mentor Trevor Bayliss, who was in charge of Australia’s side for its Twenty20 series against South Africa last November.

“We know there’s interest and that’s wonderful for him,” Howard told the Herald Sun ahead of Langer’s announcement.

“I don’t deny I’ve spoken to the WACA and we’ll support and help where we can. We look for opportunities to involve state coaches.

“You saw it with Trevor Bayliss last year. We’ve had conversations with Justin around opportunities for him as well, very similarly.

“I’ve got a lot of time for him as a bloke.”

Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann said in January he felt Langer would one day replace him.

— WITH AAP

Originally published as Justin Langer in line to help Australian team prepare for Ashes after brushing England job