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Andrew McDonald is set to be offered the role as fulltime replacement for Justin Langer, who has been subject of a fresh link to the vacant England position.
News Corp reports that McDonald, who helmed the series win in Pakistan as interim coach, is Cricket Australia’s preferred candidate “and is set to be offered the job”.
Former England coach Trevor Bayliss has also been interviewed for the role and there was some thought that CA might split the job into white ball and Test streams.
But News Corp reports that CA wants McDonald as an “overarching head coach across all three formats”.
It was reported that barring a late hitch, McDonald could be announced by the end of the week.
McDonald had some reservations over what CA’s expectations were when he spoke about it a week ago.
“I have spoken to people at Cricket Australia now, obviously the contested Test series didn’t allow that [before] but with a few more gaps amongst this one day series I have had the opportunity to speak to Cricket Australia,” McDonald said.
“Whether that becomes a follow-up conversation we will wait and see, it will be pretty much like the other people that have no doubt spoken to Cricket Australia as well.
“There was no great detail or clarity on what the role would look like, that’s probably something that will be built in the next few steps, however many steps there are to the process.
“Do I want the job? It depends on what it looks like, how Cricket Australia see the job unfolding and I will probably get more detail and clarity moving forward.”
(Photo by Darrian Traynor – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Meanwhile The Daily Mail reported that Justin Langer had changed his opinion on the potential of leading England. Their Ashes coach, Chris Silverwood, was sacked and has now landed the position of head coach with Sri Lanka.
“Justin Langer is understood to be softening towards the prospect of coaching England, although a job share would not necessarily suit his style,” the paper reported.
“Those close to the Australian previously believed he was too patriotic to coach the old enemy but nine weeks since he left his position as head coach of his own country, with a Twenty20 World Cup win and 4-0 Ashes trouncing of Joe Root’s team as parting gifts, he is understood to be willing to discuss the potential switch across international cricket’s greatest rivalry.
“However, unlike other potential candidates — such as Ottis Gibson, Jason Gillespie, Gary Kirsten and Paul Collingwood — Langer, 51, would fit best as a figurehead overseeing all three international formats, the model he is understood to prefer if a dramatic change of allegiance is to take place.”
Key to a potential return with England is thought to be the possibility that his fellow Western Australian Marcus North is a candidate to take over as the boss of the ECB.
There would be clear opposition to Langer as England coach were it to happen.
Former England player Derek Pringle said last week the country’s cricketers would benefit from a more collaborative approach – as Australia is moving towards under McDonald – and that hiring Langer would be the wrong approach.
“There was a time when English cricket slavishly sought Australian know-how but I’m not sure the desire has endured,” Pringle wrote.
“Which is why I think Justin Langer, tipped by some to be the next England head coach, is unlikely to get that job.
“Langer was a fine, gutsy player but if the current Aussie team felt his coaching style too intense, he will not be a good fit for England, despite calls from some that they need tough love. Modern players just don’t respond to old-school rigour with its (often shouted) one-way conversations, especially when things go wrong.
“They demand a relationship with their coach based on mutual respect and clear, calm advice. They are high maintenance and the best coaches like Gary Kirsten, another linked with the England job, realise that and work with it, applying just the right amount of firm touch.”
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