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Opinion

Two coaches a no-brainer going forward for Australia

1st February, 2021
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1st February, 2021
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Given the intense demands of modern cricket, the days of the all-format coach appear to be numbered.

It’s hardly a surprise that Justin Langer’s coaching style is in the spotlight in recent days after a substandard summer.

Reports from Nine newspapers over the weekend quoted dressing room sources that said the Australian coach’s intense personality began to grate during what was a gruelling Test series against India.

The revelations surprised few.

Langer, as seen in The Test documentary released last year, is a very hands-on operator who desperately cares about the fortunes of the Australian cricket team. Predominantly, this is a character trait that works in his and the team’s favour.

But the reports revealed the more negative sides of Langer; that of an overly-intense coach who is on all the time. His heart-on-the-sleeve personality likely works for some players, but for others on months-long tours, it might eventually become exhausting and even jarring.

Naturally, three frustrating Tests in a row against India (in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane) might have exacerbated any existing ill-feelings from both Langer and the disillusioned players.

Equally likely, the tense situation was the product of a long period away from families and inside restrictive biosecurity environments.

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Responses to the reports have split opinion; some believe the players are being precious by airing dirty laundry outside the dressing room, while others believe Langer’s in-your-face style needs to be toned down.

Justin Langer for the Aussies

Justin Langer. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Irrespective of those, however, the episode highlights that in 2021 one person should not be coaching the Australian Test, One-Day and T20 team.

It is an unsustainable level of pressure that demands significant periods away from family. In 2019, Langer reportedly spent 300 days away from home to coach the side in each format.

Further, given the growing tactical complexities particularly of T20 cricket, fresh voices might provide more successful environments, especially for all-format players.

Provided Langer stays on beyond his current four-year term (which expires in May next year), he should be simply retained as a full-time Test coach.

Langer’s predecessor Darren Lehmann, before the sandpaper scandal which eventually forced him to stand down, cited “too much time, too much travel” as the reason he would not seek another contract.

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During his final months in the job, he said the role should be split between “white ball and red ball”.

The good news for Cricket Australia is that they wouldn’t have to look far for that white ball option.

Assistant coach Andrew McDonald — who the same recent reports pointed to as the approachable alternative for those players unsure of Langer — could step up immediately.

Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

McDonald has already led the ODI team in India last year and will take the T20 team to New Zealand later this month. He is reportedly a great communicator, a serial winner, and has a style that differs from Langer.

Having started his coaching badges at 27 while playing for Victoria, the former all-rounder took on a playing coach role at Leicestershire at just 33 and turned around a club which had experienced a 992-day drought without a County Championship win.

From there he returned home to immediate coaching success with Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, before guiding the Melbourne Renegades to an inaugural Big Bash title in 2018-19.

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His coaching mantra is, at least compared to Langer, one of calm.

“As a player, the one thing I learned is, if you stay as level as you can through the ups and the downs, it holds you in better stead,” he said in 2016.

“As a young player, I probably didn’t get the balance right.”

Unsurprisingly, a staunch Langer yesterday said he does not believe the roles should be split.

“I don’t see anywhere around the world where it’s worked well to split the roles between formats, and that’s stayed true since the first letter I wrote to David Peever and James Sutherland about the job,” he told ESPNCricinfo yesterday.

But it shouldn’t be a call he has any part in.

If relationships have frayed with players as reported, a lesser workload and fresh voices could be a positive change that benefits all parties.

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