Like many other Australians, I was bitterly disappointed after our Test team was unable to beat a depleted Indian squad this summer.
It didn’t take long for the knives to come out, with most people wanting to blame Tim Paine’s captaincy, wicketkeeping and sledging, our bowlers (for not being able to win the last two Tests), some of our batsmen and even the curators of the SCG and Gabba.
What surprised me was that more wasn’t made of Justin Langer’s performance as coach, selector or advisor to the selectors.
What role did he have to play in the team’s performance, and should his place as Australian coach be secure?
Langer was named Australian national team coach in May 2018. There seemed little doubt about his coaching pedigree, with the success he enjoyed, particularly with the Perth Scorchers.
It soon became apparent he had his own way of doing things, with yoga and meditation featuring in a lot of the early media conversations. The terms “elite honesty” and “elite mateship” were part of the Langer mantra, as were hard work and patience, especially when playing Test cricket.
If we look at raw numbers, Langer and the Australian teams he’s coached have been successful overall – or so it seems.
| Series played | Series won | Games played | Games won | Games lost | |
| Tests | 7 | 3 | 22 | 11 | 7 |
| ODIs# | 8 | 5 | 28 | 15 | 11 |
| T20s | 7 | 4 | 20 | 11 | 9 |
#Does not include the ODI World Cup
It seems the Langer tenure as a coach could be best summed up by the word ‘almost’.
We’ve been almost good enough to beat England away in the Ashes. We’ve almost been good enough to beat India at home. We’ve almost been good enough to make the ODI World Cup final.
We’ve almost been good enough to win more than a few white-ball series.
We were certainly good enough to convincingly beat Pakistan and New Zealand in Tests and there was a terrific series win in India prior to the ODI World Cup, but then we’ve struggled to win series in all three formats against the best teams.
Overall though, the performances of all three teams Langer has coached could best be described as underwhelming, which is accurately shown by the current ICC rankings.
The Test team is ranked third, the ODI team fourth and the T20 team third. Again, these results are not desperately bad, but neither are they great and at least with the Test side, should have been better.
Langer’s time at the helm has been underwhelming (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
There’s no doubt excuses can be found for some of the performances; Langer taking over a Test team that had to be mentally rebuilt after the debacle in South Africa, the loss of our two best batsmen for 12 months, mass changes within the Cricket Australia administration and the impact COVID’s had on all facets of cricket.
There seem to be other ‘Langer’ factors that are hindering, not helping, the various Australian teams. The first and most obvious is selections. I’m not sure whether Langer has a direct or indirect say on selections for the various squads, but there certainly seems to be some themes.
During JL’s tenure, there have been two very good selections – Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green, but there have been more than a few puzzling ones.
I’m a huge Joe Burns fan but there was no way he should have been chosen on form for any of the Tests this summer. There was also a huge question mark over Matthew Wade’s selection over the past 12 months and over the axing of Travis Head this summer.
I also don’t get the bowling selections for the Sydney and Gabba Tests. For a guy who was keen on bowling rotations when Australia played in the Ashes, this approach seemed to have disappeared in favour of keeping the boys together against India, with a gassed attack leading to a series loss.
Why was James Pattinson not given a run this summer? (Photo by Jeremy Ng/AFP/Getty Images)
There also seems to be a Langer-type stubbornness when it comes to white-ball selections. Marcus Stoinis is clearly a favourite but his results at international level are underwhelming.
No consideration seems to have been given to moving Aaron Finch down the order, especially in T20s, where he has previously done well. And why no Dan Christian?
I also question some of the tactics Langer must have wanted to be implemented. I get that the Darren Lehmann approach to batting by attacking from ball one was not sustainable with this line-up.
It makes far more sense to bat more conservatively, wear down the bowlers, then make a huge total for the bowlers to defend.
Patience was a Langer strength when he batted himself, but has this approach stifled guys like Steve Smith and Labuschagne?
Paine runs the team on the field, but much of the bowling planning happens well before a ball is bowled. Again, the tactics used this summer simply didn’t work and for that, and Langer has to shoulder some responsibility.
It was also underwhelming to read the reason Langer gave for not making the Test World Championship final, thanks to having points deducted for a low over-rate in the Boxing Day Test.
He put it down to the team manager (who was on leave at the time) not appointing someone to count the overs in the MCG Test. I’m not clear how this tallies with his views on elite honesty or his lack of acceptance that someone who was there should have been responsible.
JL is a key player in how well the Australian men’s teams do, and to date, he scores a pass on his efforts.
There have been more than a few factors that have hindered him, not least of which is questions over the talent pool, especially with our red-ball cricket.
He now faces probably the toughest 18 months of his coaching career.
The Test side must win the Ashes in Australia later this year, but will have few – if any – Tests between now and then to prepare.
The T20 World Cup in India is a tournament Australia needs to win. At the least, the team must make the semi-finals.
The Test side has tours to the sub-continent in 2022 and most Australians would expect wins against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan and at least a drawn series against India.
There is also the next T20 World Cup in Australia which has to be a must-win, even more so than this year.
Is Justin Langer up to the challenge?
I certainly hope so, but I have my doubts.
As my teachers used to write: “can do better”.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Enjoyed the read Paul. Glad in fact I made time to look in on your latest, finding it a little hard to stay up with Roar writings. It leaves me contemplating who else could do JL's job if he stood down. Chris Rogers maybe but I'd venture not yet. I expect it will be some time before we consider an overseas coach again. I hope we see a great performance from the Australians this summer and with it more confidence in JL.
Micko
Roar Rookie
It's probably a modern corporate buzz phrase you'd hear in some boardroom. They come up with this rubbish to justify their huge salaries.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Funny.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
If you have to put an adjective in front of an integrity noun you have failed to communicate in a clear and honest manner.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
India looking good in Indian conditions especially. Not so sure their bowlers are that flash away from home, apart from Bumrah. Bhuvneshwar is an honest toiler but somehow more effective on Indian wickets.
Matt from Armidale
Guest
Langer had me calling for his head as soon as he started all that Elite BS. And I have to say for an Elite coach he's been sloppy, there's been a lot of indecision and muddled thinking and not a lot of Elite decisions. The over rates thing plus stubborn selection choices (Burns / no Khawaja / not rotating a shattered Starc for Pattinson / why doesn't Lyon play ODIs and T20s) all spring to mind but the worst is the Elite talk. It's out of place in the Aussie cricket team, like driving up Cape York in your Elite X7. Pretty soon you'll be stuck somewhere you can't Elitetalk your way out of. Give me Gillespie. Give me Punter. Give me Sophie Monk in an Elite cocktail dress. But send Mr. Elite off to keynote at the Telstra AGM.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Not if you’re basing your assumptions on the glory years of 20 years ago rather than the realities of today’s cricketing landscape. Unfortunately what some people don’t seem to comprehend is that success had less to do with outstanding coaching, selecting or preparing, and more to do with a particular set of circumstances that led to an incredibly competitive shield comp that produced a level and depth of talent over a 20 year period that will probably never be repeated. Since then we’ve come back to the pack, and just as importantly the rest of the world, particularly India, has caught up. Unfortunately some find this hard to comprehend after watching us flog the pants of everyone for 20 years, and assume it must be someone’s ‘fault’. That’s where the kind of logic that says ‘well we haven’t won in Pakistan in 20 years and we’re going there with an inexperienced team that struggled in Australia this year but we should just expect to win’ comes from.
Ravi
Roar Rookie
Smith is not the first player with sporting ability to be promoted to a position whose requirements exceed the parameters of his character.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Pretty hard to argue with qwetz. Hazlewood and Cummins seem like a pair of outstanding bowlers to me but they clearly aren't able to strategize and execute plans dynamically during the game. Bowl at his head seems to be the go to plan. Yes the coach and captain should take the reigns but you wouldn't see Warne or McGrath just fumbling aimlessly Starc copped a lot of criticism but remember it was Pattinson at Headingley. As for Gary well his ability to close it out on day 5 absolutely must be held up to the light
matth
Roar Guru
I disagree. The Australian cricket side is not a club side, it is a representative side selected from sides all around the country. A panel provides more coverage around the country plus removes at least some perception of bias.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Success covers all ills; silences critics and extends careers. If the critics aren't listened to before the Ashes, then wins in Asia and a lift in the rankings will have everyone looking back at the this summer as a covid hangover.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Yeah true enough. However, I honestly believe that Paine still being captain next summer gives England a real chance that they really shouldn't have down under.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
it was less about it being sinister...and more about it speaking to his inability to think about how something would be perceived.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Do most Australians expect Australia to beat Pakistan in Pakistan? That's a big ask.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
I found myself searching for conclusions as to why our vaunted test attack couldn’t close out those games. How about because our "vaunted Test attack" doesn't have all the vaunt we're continually told it has? The Big Four are much like Oz's batting of recent decades. ie Frontrunners. When the going gets tough they tend to go missing.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Given the trials and tribulations of a big chunk of cricket recently you should be a bit, or even a lot, more restrained in your criticism. Unless of course it relates to over-rated and under-performing NSW players...
Paul Saikia
Guest
“at least a drawn series against India” in India is it ! You must be kidding me mate !!!
Micko
Roar Rookie
“Political” how? What made Langer more politically attractive to the administrators at CA than Gillespie for example, the buzz phrases like “elite honesty”?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Excellent, balanced article Paul. I found myself searching for conclusions as to why our vaunted test attack couldn't close out those games. After Headingly I was prepared to give credit to an incredible individual performance but then it happened again in Sydney and then again in Brisbane. Most called for personnel changes but for me it was a tactical deficiency. Where was the Australian bowling coach in all this I asked myself? From what I can gather Langer dissolved the role and had Andrew McDonald as a sort of fill in jack of all trades. Meanwhile the Indian bowling coach was celebrating with Ravi Shastri over their tactical victory in setting leg traps to stifle Smith and Labuschagne. It was completely galling to realise that we had been out thought. I couldn't agree more that it's staggering how Langer was not held to account
The Recalcitrant
Guest
Langer was not the best candidate for the job in the first place. He had no success at lower levels. It was a politically motivated appointment and he has been at the helm for some historical losses. Why are we even talking about re appointing him.