Andrew McDonald appointed head coach of the Australian cricket team

COMMENT: Australia’s players got the man they wanted - a calm-headed soul who is the ying to Justin Langer’s yang. But that in itself is a dangerous thing, writes Ben Horne.

The Australian national coaching job is Andrew McDonald’s if he wants it. Picture: AFP Images

Andrew McDonald is profiled on the first page of Dan Christian’s new book as a coach with a refreshingly optimistic view on life.

“Cricket’s developed a bit of an obsession with studying video, to analyse technique and correct faults,” Christian lamented about the modern game.

“But Andrew McDonald, who was my coach at Victoria and at the Melbourne Renegades, used to say that we spent too much time watching the 5 per cent of cricket where we did things wrong, to the exclusion of the 95 per cent of the time we did things well.

“And I reckon he’s right.”

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Dan Christian enjoyed playing under McDonald at the Renegades and Victoria. Picture: AAP

Christian’s belief in McDonald’s methods would likely be supported by English tourists from the mid 1990s who were forced to watch non-stop replays of Shane Warne destroying them in 1993 before they faced him in an Ashes series in Australia.

England thought the torture study sessions could help them avoid the same mistakes happening again, but all they did was brain wash themselves into thinking ‘we can’t score runs off this bloke.’

However, as McDonald embarks on an exciting era in charge of a team on the rise, it’s England’s most recent Ashes tourists – and their fallen coach Chris Silverwood – who provide an important cautionary tale for Australia.

Generally cricket coaches oscillate between hard nut disciplinarian and chilled out man manager, before one or the other is sacked because the strength they were hired for is deemed to have become a weakness.

That is largely what’s happened in the case of the cool and calm McDonald replacing the volatile Justin Langer, and his four-year appointment as national men’s coach will be welcomed by players as an important moment in their quest for world domination because they feel they can thrive off his positivity.

Justin Langer put players offside with his occasionally volatile demeanour. Picture: Getty

But as Silverwood could attest to, there is some truth to the saying that good guys can finish last in cricket.

While it’s a tremendous starting point for McDonald that he has such great support from his players who actively wanted him to get the job … there is such thing as being too close to your players.

Silverwood was backed in by the ECB because, like McDonald, he was a universally popular assistant coach, who wasn’t going to rock the boat but rather guide it gently down the stream.

But in the Ashes furnace it all disintegrated, with reports of a drinking culture developing within the cosy England environment and the conflict-adverse Silverwood unable to inspire players completely devoid of fight and tenacity when the pressure came.

As former Test captain Michael Clarke said on breakfast radio this week, McDonald’s true test will come when turbulence arrives – an inevitability in a sport where winning overseas is so difficult.

Chris Silverwood was popular with the England players - but it wasn’t enough to save his job after poor results. Picture: AFP

However, there are key differences between Silverwood’s England and the Australia McDonald is taking over.

No.1, Australia has the makings of a serious all-round outfit compared to England’s Ashes plodders and No.2, McDonald has strong and outstanding leaders in Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch alongside him which Silverwood may not have had in Joe Root.

The other reason that should give CA confidence it has backed the right horse is McDonald has a proven record as a Sheffield Shield and Big Bash winning coach which suggests he is no ‘Yes Man’ and his achievements and experience has rightfully earned him his Australian appointment.

Coaches don’t win games of cricket, but there’s no doubt McDonald’s calm and reassuring presence helped Australia hold its nerve in a war of attrition in Pakistan and claim historic victory.

Now the challenge is maintaining the fine balance between giving players what they want, and what they need.

MCDONALD COMFORTABLE WITH AUS CRICKET ‘SPLIT’

By Emma Greenwood

Incoming Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald says he is “comfortable” with the national job remaining across all three formats of the game, saying he did not agree with talk red-ball and white-ball responsibilities should be split.

Cricket Australia on Wednesday morning confirmed McDonald’s appointment as national head coach for the next four years, with the former allrounder to manage a heavy schedule over all formats.

“I think where it’s landed is positive and I’m really comfortable with where it’s landed,” McDonald said.

“I think the great challenge for coaches and players is to manage the workload across the four years.

“It’s my turn at the moment but I’d like to think I’ve got coaching staff around me who can step up and elevate certain coaches at different times to take on different tours and different challenges.

“And whilst we’re doing that, it’s great for the depth of our coaching staff.”

Newly-appointed Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald. Picture: AFP

There had been plenty of talk in the lead-up about splitting the roles in an attempt to entice a candidate such as Ricky Ponting into the national set-up.

But McDonald was adamant the roles should remain as they were under outgoing mentor Justin Langer.

Once it was decided McDonald was the preferred candidate he had an opportunity to sit down with the sport’s powerbrokers to shape his role.

And while he will oversee all formats, he said investment in other coaches and managing the workload of all in the program was a “huge consideration”.

While four years used to be a full cycle between major tournaments like a World Cup and Ashes tours, there was now so much content on the calendar that there is no real down period.

McDonald will oversee all formats, despite the heavy workload. Picture: AFP

But McDonald believes he will be able to put his stamp on the team in the contract period negotiated, although he knows he will have to navigate a period of change within the playing group.

“The four-year term I think is about right, it allows you some time to shape (things),” he said.

“There’s no doubt there’s gonna be some transition within that, so there’s going to be some challenges.

“I feel as though that’s probably the right length to be able to shape and formulate that and what it looks like beyond that is probably up to someone else to decide.

“It’s an exciting opportunity and an exciting role and I’m really happy and grateful that it’s landed at those last four years and that really encompasses most of the challenges within the FTP (ICC’s Future Tour Programs) but also where the playing group is at the moment.”

MCDONALD LOCKED IN AS PERMANENT LANGER REPLACEMENT

Andrew McDonald has been announced as Australia’s new national men’s head coach.

McDonald accepted the role to take over as Justin Langer’s permanent replacement.

News Corp revealed on Monday that the Australian national coaching job was McDonald’s if he wants it - and an announcement could now come within the next 24-48 hours.

The former Test all-rounder was favourite to take over from Justin Langer permanently, and sources confirmed McDonald was identified late last week as the preferred candidate by CA powerbrokers and has been offered the job.

Andrew McDonald with Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins. Picture: AFP Images

“The journey so far has been particularly pleasing, and I am honoured to be given this incredible opportunity for what is an exciting period ahead,” McDonald said.

“The success of the World Cup, the Ashes Series and now Pakistan has been testament to the hard work and leadership of Justin, Pat and Aaron along with the players and the support staff.

“My plan is to build on the growth, depth and experience of the squad while working collectively with the group and across the game. There are many challenges in the short-term which I know excites the leadership group, the players and the staff. I’d also like to thank my family for their support.”

McDonald earned praise from players for his work as interim head coach in Pakistan, and he is a popular choice amongst the playing group.

McDonald had himself expressed some reservations about the taxing responsibilities involved in overseeing all three formats, but CA wants a head man to run the whole program to avoid potential conflict over player availability between red and white ball.

McDonald would still be given select white ball tours off, with CA understanding of the strain that comes with the job.

They do not want him to become burnt out.

Ricky Ponting was among those considered for the top job. Picture: Getty

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley said: “We interviewed several excellent candidates for this role, which is one of the most important in Australian sport.

“Andrew has already shown he is an outstanding Head Coach and the vision he outlined for the role during the appointment process was both impressive and exciting, making him our clear choice.

“We are proud of the way the team played and the respect shown throughout the tour of Pakistan under the leadership of Andrew, Pat and Aaron and really pleased Andrew is taking on the role permanently.”

CA engaged an international recruitment company to conduct its search for Langer’s replacement, but McDonald was always their preferred option.

Cricket Australia did reach out to Ricky Ponting among other leading cricket figures through the recruitment process run by company SRI.

Australian women’s coach Matthew Mott and former England coach – and current Sydney Thunder mentor Trevor Bayliss – were also understood to be on the final shortlist of candidates along with McDonald.

It’s unclear whether Cricket Australia will allow McDonald to fulfil his existing arrangement with a franchise in the England Hundred competition.

McDonald deliberately held off on engaging in talks with CA about the head coaching position while in Pakistan, determined to focus purely on Australia’s bid to win the historic Test series – which they did.

The Victorian’s coaching philosophy is very much based on allowing players to take responsibility for the team, which is the direction the playing group wanted to go in after Langer was ousted.