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.
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. (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.
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. (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.
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.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Most of them better than paine as captain rowdy , finch is a very good field placer . Alas your main fear may come true because it seems the consensus is to find a totally new captain . Cummins is being push forward it seems with nsw captaincy. https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/cricket/australia-cricket-2021-news-pat-cummins-captaincy-nsw-blues-tim-paine-steve-smith-peter-nevill/news-story/c744f8aa1c0f129434a4878d400bf7ca
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
We'd gain more with Finch as captain than we'd lose with Paine's omission. We have wickys stagnating.
ThighSlappinBalls
Roar Rookie
What Langer needs to tone down most of all is in what he says to the media. Did he appoint himself to be the selector’s media spokesperson prior to this summer’s test series? I am asking you did he? Not trolling just asking you made a pretty big statement without any evidence to back it up. Easy fix just admit you made a silly statement and we can leave it at that. Pathetic is making rash statements with no substance which is what you did.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Wrong story. Get a life and stop trolling. Your obsession with me is as disturbing as it is pathetic.
ThighSlappinBalls
Roar Rookie
You seem to have inside knowledge did he ? You said he has 50% of selection decisions even when its a three person selection process. I have talked with more than a few friends that like myself have spent a long time living overseas and most still do and guess what not one has heard of South East Asian countries thinking that Australia are a laughing stock because of our flag please provide some evidence or newspaper article. I know you won’t be able to
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Warne wasn't a coach of the Australian team...I don't think he's ever been a coach of any team. There's a difference...
ThighSlappinBalls
Roar Rookie
HaHa this bloke does not like evidence
Ian
Roar Rookie
Hello Steve....you raise a fair point.My issue with Justin Langer is that,in my opinion,he has far too much to say.When a coach/manager puts himself in the frontline win,lose or draw,he deserves more scrutiny than a coach who takes a backseat and let's the players do the talking.I'm comparing JL with Englands coach,Chris Silverwood,who rarely comments about anything.During the recent Sri Lanka series it was hard to find anything he said about it at all.He let his captain and players do all the talking and take all the plaudits.Ravi Shastri seemed to follow the same road.It's the players game.Let them speak. Langer is a likeable man and was obviously a fine player but,again in my humble opinion,his style of intense in your face coaching is very much yesterday.He's got a very experienced squad of players.I'd much prefer to hear from them,not him.
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
You ignored me about Warney. He is just as intense as Justin langer and you didn’t criticise that and all his teammates liked him and liked his intensity
Kalva
Roar Rookie
When teams lose to teams they should be beating, isn't it time to start questioning everything? Doesn't mean you change everything but you have to question it
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Intensity is good but you can sometimes be too intense..look at the discussion in the Indian team regarding whether Kohli or Rahane should be captain
Jero
Roar Rookie
In the context of Australian cricket, "Homeworkgate" didn't exactly play out well with the players. Now that you mention it.
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
Oh please, when we win you don’t care. You always criticise our coaches when they lose and call for change Eg sack coaches who lose. You seem I’ve noticed to put scrutiny on our coaches when they losing. But don’t criticise much when they winning. Justin langer isn’t the first coach you’ve criticised I’ve noticed...
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
You need intensity on the field and at training. You think Warney wasn’t a intense guy? Teammates liked his full on intense aggressive in ya face style.
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
You say all this but you do know Mickey Arthur was a micro manager. Wat did you think of him as a coach?
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
We'll have to agree to disagree on that topic then... :happy:
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
It's not healthy for a coach to spend so much time away? Even if, as an adult they choose to? So how do you reconcile that with an impartial umpiring panel including match referees where you aren't allowed to umpire at home? Isn't all that a decision for the individual?
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
A player who understands the situation and recognises that the coach will also delegate to the batting or bowling coach.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Not to mention at Somerset, he captained them in the T20 Champions league in India about 2008-09 due to their domestic runner up qualification before the T20 leagues like the IPL & BBL really took hold.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
No problem with a coach being consulted on occasions but never a vote on selections.