- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
With Justin Langer stepping down as national coach, the next big question is who will be the next in line?
There are many candidates who could take over, some with a mountain of international experience, plenty who have had success in domestic competitions as well as options from the coaching set-up in the Australian team.
The CA board has met on Friday to make a call on Langer’s future with the directors tipped to part ways with the former Test opener in part due to his intense coaching style getting under the skin of the senior players. There is no guarantee an official announcement will be made today but it is expected within the next 24 hours.
CA is likely to be spoilt for choice for the highly sought-after position with resumes flooding in from all corners of the cricketing globe.
As was planned weeks ago while Langer took a break from the hectic summer schedule, current assistant coach Andrew McDonald will oversee the T20 side’s five-match series against Sri Lanka which starts next Friday in Sydney.
The candidates to replace Langer
Andrew McDonald: The former Victorian and Test all-rounder has been part of the national squad as an assistant coach since November 2019. He served a four-year apprenticeship with Leicestershire, the Melbourne Renegades, Victoria and Rajasthan before becoming one of Langer’s deputies.
He has been praised widely by the players for his input and relaxed demeanour although there’s a fair chance he may not want to step up to the head role given it comes with much greater scrutiny. Whoever takes over, there is likely to be a backlash from many of Langer’s former teammates who have prominent media roles.
Michael Di Venuto: Another of the current assistants, the former Tasmanian and ODI opener became a full-time deputy to Langer last year after previously being involved as a specialist batting coach. Di Venuto guided Surrey to their first English county title in 16 years in 2018 and has also coached at the Adelaide Strikers, Hobart Hurricanes and Tasmania.
Trevor Bayliss: A name which has gained plenty of traction in recent weeks since it became increasingly clear that Langer’s tenure would likely be coming to an end. A former NSW first-class stalwart as a middle-order batter in the 1980s and ‘90s, he started coaching with the Blues in the mid 2000s before taking Sri Lanka to the 2011 World Cup final. He returned to coach his home state and the Sydney Sixers and also took charge of Kolkata in the early days of the IPL.
(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
He made his name on the international scene as England’s head coach, overseeing their 2015 Ashes win at home and finishing after they won the ODI World Cup four years later. His links to Test skipper Pat Cummins through their background with Sydney club Penrith have prompted suggestions that may help him get the Australian job if he were to put his name forward.
Ricky Ponting: The Australian cricket icon has helped out the national team occasionally in recent years and helped rejuvenate Delhi Captials in the IPL last year. He recently said “I can’t see how he’s not” reappointed when asked about Langer, adding that on results alone, he should have received a new deal from CA.
Ponting is an in-depth thinker on the science of cricket and an adept man manager from his days as national captain and his gravitas would command the respect of any dressing room.
Jason Gillespie: Another laidback character, like McDonald, who has built his coaching career around having a strong rapport with his players. He got Yorkshire promoted into English county cricket’s top division then after finishing runners-up, guided them to successive titles.
He’s also had success back home, claiming the BBL trophy with the Adelaide Strikers in 2017-18 and could be an outside chance to be Langer’s successor if higher-profile candidates rule themselves out.
Greg Shipperd: A long-time coach at domestic level, for Victoria and the Sydney Sixers, he may be considered too old school for the national job. The 65-year-old who played alongside Langer in Western Australia in the 1980s is known for his attention to detail but despite being known as a dour batter in his playing days, has adapted his coaching techniques to the modern game, particularly in the T20 arena at the Sixers in a highly successful stint over the past seven years.
Gary Kirsten: A left-field option and one that Cricket Australia would be unlikely to pursue after the two-year tenure of fellow South African Mickey Arthur ended poorly in 2013. Kirsten has runs on the board as a coach for the Proteas and India but may be a more likely option for the vacant England role following Chris Silverwood’s demise.
Stephen Fleming: The Kiwi legend has cut his coaching chops in the IPL, becoming the most successful mentor in tournament history when he led Chennai to their fourth title in October. He has also held roles at Melbourne Stars and recently helped out the Black Caps for the first time at the T20 World Cup.
Adam Voges: A relative newcomer to the domestic coaching scene, the former Test batter took out the BBL with the Perth Scorchers last month but his record with Western Australia on the first-class scene is modest so he will need to build his resume before being considered for the national role.
Chris Rogers: Another former Test batter who has impressed the past couple of years at state level after replacing McDonald as Victoria’s head coach. An innovative thinker, he is also too green to be a shot at the Australian gig but is viewed as a potential chance down the track.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.