Justin Langer was fast-tracked into the Australian coaching role over seven months ago now, so in the professional world of modern-day cricket, a job appraisal seems slightly overdue.
Admittedly, the Aussies are in the middle of a series right now, but the cricket never really stops these days anyway, so a quick analysis now seems as good a time as any.
It’s been a tough first few months for Langer after the 48-year-old stepped in for Darren Lehmann, who left the job suddenly at the end of March.
Picked to coach the national team in all three formats, Langer’s four-year tenure has started with considerably more losses than victories.
Langer is yet to win a Test from three attempts at the helm, has only won a single ODI from eight matches and snatched victory in five T20 internationals from 13 starts, including one game against the UAE.
Admittedly, most of those games were on foreign shores, but still, those numbers are not good.
It would be too simplistic to measure Langer on just wins and losses at the moment though, considering he has inherited a severely weakened team, that has lost both key players and a lot of its mojo.
So, let’s have a look at some of the other parameters.
In his first press conference as Australia’s new cricket coach, Langer talked about Australian cricket “earning respect, on and off the cricket field.”
He also touched on another team goal which he wanted to adopt from his time as a successful coach of WA.
He called it “encouraging not just great cricketers but also great people.”
Both goals came as no surprise of course, uttered just weeks after an ill-fated South African tour which saw players penalised for ball-tampering.
Known for his quirky approach as coach, Langer’s goals stand somewhat at odds with the 2018 zeitgeist, however.
After all, what are the KPIs on respect? And how do you monetise being a great person?
Justin Langer doesn’t exactly have the cream of the crop at his disposal right now. (AAP Image/Luis Ascui)
Jokes aside, it’s been noticeable to see the Australian cricket team’s increased engagement with the public over the last few months.
In amongst their regular advertisement shoots, they’ve been showing up at cricket camps, war commemorations and other community events, mending a few fences with a disappointed Aussie public.
Of course you could dismiss this as cheesy PR, but in this age of shouty media noise, if you don’t do those sorts of things with a camera nearby, no-one really notices.
Just as noticeable was the way the Aussies put their game where their mouths were in the final innings of the first Test in Adelaide.
Anyone who heard a full over of Rishabh Pant’s uninterrupted drivel from behind the stumps knows that the Aussie batsmen showed considerable restraint in not turning the game into a slanging match.
Tim Paine’s decency as captain constantly shines through.
The mid-pitch comments from the Aussie bowlers towards the batsmen were there as usual, but they seemed fewer than normal.
Especially on the first morning of the Test, as Australia’s “fast bowling cartel” showed that an aggressive mindset with the ball in hand was more useful than a couple of cliched remarks in their follow-through.
Tim Paine of Australia (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
But still, Australia’s cricketing public are disappointed with the team’s recent results – just ask around a bit. It comes at a time when other national men’s teams are struggling too.
The Wallabies have been especially poor this calendar year and the World Cup in Russia showed just how far the Socceroos lag behind the world’s best.
But, a little different to football, cricket coaches can’t be held accountable for every misstep of their players on the pitch.
Cricket is a team game, yes, but one where players are constantly required to put in individual performances for prolonged periods of time.
For this reason, I think JL is doing okay. The fact is, Australia’s players are just lacking a bit of quality at the moment.
Langer can’t be blamed for that – it’s due to a number of factors.
He should be aware from his own playing career that chopping and changing lineups dissolves players’ confidence considerably.
If he remembers that at the selection table ahead of the second Test, he will have had a pretty good seven months from my perspective.
1st&10
Guest
No more Marshes. No more Usman. Pull Starc aside and remind him that he is dispensable if not performing or being lazy
1st&10
Guest
Agree. No Warner, no more Clarke has gone a long way to the team ‘growing up’ David “mush head” Warner must never play another test
1st&10
Guest
Justin Clanger is too close to the Marsh Clan, thus a slight conflict of evidence exists. He is too obsessed with WA players, rather than scoping all 1st class teams
Paul Giles
Guest
I disagree. Langer is doing a really poor job at the moment. Responsible for Mitch marsh as vice captain, wanted him playing, responsible for finch as opener. We didnt stand a chance in the uae with m marsh and labuschange in the same team. Top 6 doesn't look so bad like this khawaja, Harris, Patterson, head, S Marsh and Wade. We picked 3 blokes in the uae who are not even in our best 12 batsmen now.
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
We now lose with sportsmanship. This is preferable to winning by cheating whether it be sandpaper lollies or bitting the ball.
anon
Roar Pro
We could do without this nutty "elite mateship" and "elite honesty" drivel. Slogans don't work to begin with, but to come up with such corny, cheesy slogans as a way of "righting wrongs" shows that Langer really isn't in touch with reality.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Fair enough. But if the poor form continues until March, he probably still wouldn't be given his marching orders. I actually think that our World Cup performance in May will be a big acid test. If we really flunk it there - a tournament we have done so well at over the years - his job security could become wobbly. But, as you say... these are unique times in Aussie men's cricket. The women, meanwhile, are killing it!
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Agree with this. He's on somewhat of a hiding to nothing and 7 months is not a long time to judge him on with the state of Aus cricket at present.
danno
Guest
Oz cricket needs a strong good captain who can lead the side ala Chappells, Taylor, Border, Waugh, Ponting. Langers role is superfluous to how it fairs on the field. He is merely a talking head for the camera to say the right things. Paine is a fill in.
anon
Roar Pro
Langer’s record is now 6 wins, 1 draw and 17 losses from 24 matches as coach. 5 of those wins came in T20 matches. Of those 5 wins, 3 of those wins were against the UAE and Zimbabwe. This is absolutely appalling.
AP
Guest
I keep hearing this about Langer's WA bias but I'm not sure where it comes from. It usually stems from Shaun Marsh's selection, which is fair except when you consider his recent Shield form and the fact he averages 56 in Australia since 2014. My feeling with Langer is that I don't expect him to be the saviour for our batting collapses, as he was the batting coach during some of Australia's more tumultuous periods. And I think much more scrutiny must be put on Graeme Hick's involvement in the set-up.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I dunno if seven months is enough time to assess anything, given the unique state of Australian men's cricket right now and the fact that we've only played on test at home. I'm more inclined to look back on the summer come March, or even after the 2019 Ashes.
Simoc
Guest
Langar has been a dedicated cricket coach since finishing his playing. He is a far better coach than the hapless Llehmann who just wanted to be liked in the media. Unfortunately the Australian batting line-up is comparatively inexperienced and getting back to the top of world cricket will take awhile. It looks like we need to bank on Harris and Head in the short term and hope they start delivering on a regular basis. I reckon they need to instruct in batting technique at school level but despite what the players say T20 is the main game for kids coming through to make a living out of cricket. Hopefully Langer can have input throughout the system.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I was so glad to see the end of sledging (bullying). I really was becoming awful following these petulant children.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Jules... good to hear from you, hope you are well! Yeah, it's strange with Ponting. You get the feeling he taking his options in the coaching and media landscape pretty carefully... the Aussie coaching job is more than full-time these days, with a lot of travel and is also a bit of a thankless task. Like SR Waugh, as a former Aussie cricket captain, he can pick and choose what he wants really. I'm hopeful he may get some more coaching experience under his belt and then go for it in a couple of years.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
I agree - the team's behaviour on and off the field has greatly improved and if you think this to be trivial then you dont understand the importance of TEST cricket's role as a barometer of our culture. In this sport, more than any other, it's not just about winning, its how you play ! When I started as a kid we clapped the opposing captain before he faced his first ball. If the history of the game is no longer relevant - why do we refer to "the Don" so often. As Langer learns to lose his WA bias, I think we shall see a very good, strong, national coach emerge.
Boycey
Roar Rookie
Andre! Jules from Berlin here. Hope you’re well. Whilst I have no doubt Langer brought out the best of his ability as a batsman through hard work rather than natural talent, I’m not necessarily sure this is reflected in his coaching. And if the players displayed his sheer bloody-mindedness, determination and work ethic; I have no doubt we would make a better fist of it. But judging on what I hear from Ricky Ponting’s comments I feel he may have been the better bet to bring out the best in this group. Do you think Langer is the right choice of coach? Is the “nice guy” Langer and Paine combo a decision to win back the Australian public?
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Bad!! Some of his philosophies are utterly ridiculous.