Andrew Strauss confirms Justin Langer is a contender to coach England after he quit

Justin Langer’s decision to resign has him in the frame to be England’s next coach. And his mentor, who encouraged him to quit, has had his say.

Seven years after he was first approached to coach England Justin Langer might be getting another phone call.

What started out as a pot-stirring idea – Langer coaching England – has become a distinct possibility after he quit as Australian coach.

New English cricket boss Andrew Strauss, who played with Langer at Middlesex, has confirmed Langer could be a shock contender to coach England following the axing of Chris Silverwood.

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Justin Langer arrives at Perth Airport on Saturday. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“I know him well and on the surface he’s done a very good job with that Australian cricket team so I would not rule him out,’’ said Strauss, who has taken over temporarily as the managing director of English cricket following the resignation of Ashley Giles.

“I personally feel someone with an outside view who can check and challenge the thoughts within the dressing room is a healthy thing. I’m sure there are plenty of others as well.’’

Asked whether he thought Langer, who was approached by England in 2015, should coach that nation, Langer’s old opening partner Matthew Hayden declared “no’’ but that was out of concern how much he might improve them.

Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer winding back the clock during the Bushfire Cricket Bash T20 match in 2020. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“I could see him being powerful and potent enough to turn around the ECB (English Cricket Board) culture and shake the s**t out of them,’’ Hayden said. “

“But I would like him to go home and have a full life. He is really a very skillful leader and there are a myriad of opportunities available to him.

“I am sure he could he could add a lot to his role with his beloved footy club (The West Coast Eagles) where he could add a lot with his learnings of how not to handle a head coach.’’

Langer’s mentor John Buchanan was not sure whether Langer would be ready to coach England.

“It’s a big job,’’ Buchanan said. “You would have to be really ready for it. Even dealing with the English press is a big job and they can be very critical when things go wrong.’’

AUSTRALIA’S COMPLICATED TOUR OF PAKISTAN

Australia, led by interim coach Andrew McDonald, look set to fly to Pakistan around February 26 and have abandoned the idea of playing any type of tour match ahead of the three Tests.

Instead, players from Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and NSW have the option to play in the Sheffield Shield which recommences with two games starting February 9.

Tasmania and Western Australia do not have a game before the plane leaves which means players from that state, including exciting young all-rounder Cameron Green, will have no game practice before the first Test which is currently scheduled for March 3.

The complicating factor for players like David Warner, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc is they also have a T20 series against Sri Lanka

Players were keen to keep the length of the tour short but entering a Test series without a proper warm-up — as England did this summer — is an unusual approach.

Cummins indicated on Thursday that some still have concerns about returning to the country which Australia has not toured since 1998.

“I think we’ll get close to a full-strength squad,” Cummins said. “There is still a little bit of work to do. We have received a lot of information and it has been great. All the pre-tour security and biosecurity work has been done and it’s been fantastic.

“There are a couple of players still keen to get a bit more information but everyone is really pumped and feeling relatively comfortable. If anyone doesn’t make the tour it is absolutely okay, we will back them for sure.”

Justin Langer and Marnus Labuschagne.

The Sheffield Shield fixture released Friday is uneven and will rely on a percentage system to ascertain the trophy winner as administrators and players battle with the fatigue of biosecurity bubbles and the frustrations of border closures.

Queensland is scheduled to play a total of nine matches for the season, Tasmania and South Australia eight, while New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia will play seven under the revised fixture

“Whilst Cricket Australia want to maximise the number of matches played in pivotal domestic competitions, the health and wellbeing of participants is a priority,” Cricket Australia’s head of cricket operations Peter Roach said.

“Our domestic competitions are among the strongest in the world, and we want teams to have the opportunity to field their best squads, and players and staff to have the opportunity to be at their best when given the opportunity.

“For these reasons, the decision was made and supported unanimously by stakeholders to complete the domestic competitions under the revised playing conditions and schedule.

“We look forward to the domestic season getting underway safely and thank the States and Territories for their flexibility and understanding as we navigate scheduling challenges.”