Coach Justin Langer steadies the ship of Australian cricket

Australian cricket will look to steady the ship following the appointment of Justin Langer as head coach.

Justin Langer speaks to the media after being unveiled yesterday as Australia’s new cricket coach. Picture: Getty Images

Australian cricket will look to steady the ship following the appointment of Justin Langer as head coach.

While Langer’s stated desire in yesterday’s press conference to get new people around the team would have sent a shiver through the likes of bowling coach David Saker, fielding coach Brad Haddin and batting coach Graeme Hick, the trio are likely to travel to England with the team in June should they choose to.

There is even talk, contrary to recent speculation that Aaron Finch would get the job, that Tim Paine may be granted the one-day captaincy for the five-match series in an effort to keep some consistency around a camp that has been rocked by departures.

With Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft suspended for varying lengths of time — and former coach Darren Lehmann gone — in the wake of the Cape town ball-tampering scandal, the high-performance staff believe there is a need for some consistency.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland had indicated after the scandal that there may be an international search for a new coach, but admitted yesterday that Langer had been in the pipeline for a long time.

New Australian head coach Justin Langer yesterday, main picture, and on his way to a century in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval in 2001

When the dust settled after the scandal, the organisation realised it had already been grooming the right candidate and nobody else brought to the table what Langer could.

Having already worked as an assistant coach with the side before 2012 and a state coach at Western Australia since, Langer was given the chance to lead the team during an ODI tri-series in 2016 as part of an extended apprenticeship.

Langer, 47, called his successful time at Western Australia a “six-year dress rehearsal” and has been keen to do the Australian job since he was given the taste when Lehmann went on holidays.

He said yesterday he believes the side can address its cultural issues and that winning back respect is more important than winning games.

“I think one of the things that’s really important is that we keep looking to earn respect,” he said. “To me, respect is worth more than all the gold in the world.

“We all know what the acceptable behaviours are. There is a difference between competitiveness and aggression and we’ve got to be careful with that.

“We look to encourage great cricketers, but also great people. So if we can encourage great people and great Australians over the next four years, I think that’s a really important foundation for us.”

New Australian head coach Justin Langer yesterday, main picture, and on his way to a century in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval in 2001

His appointment is good news for the banned trio, who Langer said he believed can be redeemed.

“Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith — besides Mike Hussey — love the game more than anyone I know,” Langer said.

“They are cricket tragics and they’re great kids. That’s why it was such a surprise they made the mistake they did. They’ve made a mistake.

“We’ve all made mistakes, we can all get better at things. Davey Warner is the same, he’s a really good young bloke.

“If we can keep mentoring and helping them and they want to meet the standards of the Australian cricket team, then of course they’d be welcomed back.”

Langer said he was a fan of the way Warner played cricket, which is further good news to the fallen vice-captain coming a few days after Sutherland also endorsed his chances.

Langer came to West Australian cricket following the resignation of captain and coach and said that experience mirrors the one he finds himself in now.

“When I took over at WA, it was like a dysfunctional family,” he said.

“The ex-players hated the WACA, the WACA hated them back, club cricket hated them, WACA hated them back, media hated the WACA, the WACA hated them back — everyone was angry. I’ve got to bring a bit of love back.”

New Australian head coach Justin Langer yesterday, main picture, and on his way to a century in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval in 2001

Langer understands that without Warner and Smith the side faces a hard road ahead, but he is already planning for success in faraway series.

“We’ve got a World Cup, a T20 World Cup, a couple of Ashes (in 2019 and 2021-22) — I get nervous when I start thinking about it,” Langer said. “There are some big tournaments coming up.

“But ultimately, if I fast forward it, the Indian Test tour in about three or four years’ time, to me that’s the ultimate.

“We will judge ourselves on whether we’re a great cricket team if we beat India in India.

“I look back on my career, the Mount Everest moment was 2004 when we finally beat India in India.

“We’ve got to get better at playing overseas, we become a great team if we win overseas and at home, so that will be something for us to aspire to.”