Langer only has eyes for Aussie job

England came knocking and India were just about to ring the door bell, but it appears Justin Langer is only interested in one international cricket coaching role – Australia.

Langer thought long and hard about applying for the England top job before deciding to re-sign with West Australian cricket until the end of 2017/18.

Family reasons played a key role in Langer’s decision to stay in Perth.

But the lure of taking over from Darren Lehmann as coach of Australia in the future also convinced Langer to bide his time.

Lehmann has already anointed Langer as his future successor, with speculation rife a coaching handover could occur after the 2017/18 Ashes series.

Langer was reluctant to get caught up in timeframes, but the former Test opener confirmed it was a role he’d love to have down the track.

“One day I’d like to coach Australia,” Langer said on Tuesday.

“That could be in 10 years’ time; it could be whenever.

“I had a really good talk to ‘Boof’ (Lehmann) last week, and he talked about his plan.

“But you can’t predict the future. You can’t predict how someone’s going to be in a year’s time.

“Winning’s like a drug isn’t it? And he loves what he does. Boof’s doing a brilliant job.

“I know this business. WA could lose the first few games next year and I’ll be a rubbish coach and people will never talk about me in international cricket again.

“I’m not going to look at what might happen in the future, except to say that one day, if I keep doing a good job, I’m sure I’ll have aspirations to coach Australia – just like I had aspirations to wear a baggy green cap.”

England director of cricket Andrew Strauss rang Langer last week to sound out the Australian’s interest in replacing Peter Moores as coach.

More recently, Langer’s name had been linked to the vacant India coaching role.

The challenge of reviving a dishevelled England outfit almost convinced Langer to apply for the job.

But in the end, his heart over-ruled his head.

“As an international coach, you’re basically on the road for 12 months of the year,” Langer said.

“My family is very important to me.

“My 18-year-old daughter Jess said, ‘Well dad, I’m not coming to England’. And then my nine-year-old said, ‘Well I’m staying with Jess’.

“So that probably made the decision a bit easier.

“I thought my wife would be really keen to go back to England. But she was very clear she wanted to stay home.”

Former Australian Test paceman Jason Gillespie, who is currently at the helm of county side Yorkshire, remains the hot favourite to be appointed England’s next coach.

Langer said his former teammate would do well in the role.

“He’s one of the most loyal people I ever played with,” Langer said.

“He was extraordinary in terms of his discipline, particularly at the front end of his career.

“He was like an Olympic athlete.”