England could swoop on Langer

Justin Langer has been left hanging as he waits for a decision on his coaching future

A friendship Justin Langer formed 25 years ago could be the key to him being offered the chance to coach England if there is no resolution with Australia.

England sacked their Ashes coach Chris Silverwood on Thursday night and Langer’s close relationship with ECB chairman of cricket Andrew Strauss has him looming large as a leading candidate to take over, should his position with Cricket Australia come to a stunning end at a board meeting on Friday.

If Langer was to cross enemy lines, it would set up an extraordinary build-up to this year’s World Cup in Australia and the 2023 Ashes in the UK.

Langer was sounded out by Strauss to take the England head coaching job back in 2015 when Peter Moores was sacked, and, if the West Australian was to become a free agent, it’s difficult to see why Strauss wouldn’t pick up the phone again.

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Justin Langer’s could be decided at Friday’s Cricket Australia board meeting. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images

Strauss has spoken about the enormous influence Langer had over him as a young player at Middlesex back in the late 1990s, while two of English cricket’s most influential voices Michael Vaughan and Mike Atherton are also vocal Langer supporters.

“… I don’t see anyone else better suited than Langer to crack heads together and bring some tough management to a group of England players who have become too cosy recently,” Vaughan wrote for the UK Telegraph.

“This England Test team needs some tough love. Joe Root needs a forceful coach next to him too.

“Gary Kirsten would be a great candidate as well but if you want one person to come in with a huge point to prove then it is Langer.

“… My personal wish is for England to keep a close eye on events in Australia on Friday and act quickly if Justin Langer leaves his role.”

Vaughan said England should not be spooked by reports that Australia’s playing group has lost support for Langer and his coaching style that not even Ashes and T20 World Cup triumphs over the summer has apparently been able to remedy.

ECB chairman of cricket Andrew Strauss, right, would be watching the situation closely. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“I don’t worry that Australia’s players were upset by him. Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for,” wrote Vaughan.

“They may soon discover the grass is not greener without Langer.

“You can’t go against results. He has won Ashes series convincingly, he drew in England, won the T20 World Cup when Australia were not expected to do so. Clearly he is doing something right.

“English cricket needs a reality check. It is not about being cosy and nice to each other. To win you sometimes need to be on edge.

“… Langer would clear away excuses. He would command instant respect. He has won everything in his life as a player and now he is a vastly experienced coach.

When Langer was approached by Strauss in 2015, he said in his heart it was an easy decision to stay with the Australian system at WA, but admitted in his head it was a difficult call to knock back such a major international posting.

The ECB head coach position is highly paid and, although a report in England this week said Langer would find it difficult to coach against Australia in Ashes battle, the equation could change once his future with Australia is known.

Langer wants to be a career coach and fixing England would be an enormous challenge.

Strauss knows what Langer can bring.

“He (Langer is without doubt the most disciplined cricketer I have seen,” Strauss has said.

Langer was credited as a major influence behind Strauss’ transformation from “scatterbrained” youngster to one of England’s greatest ever Test captains.