Hayden urges England to appoint Langer as their new coach

Matthew Hayden has urged England to appoint Justin Langer as their new head coach, following Chris Silverwood's departure last week.

Silverwood was axed by the ECB in the wake of England's 4-0 defeat to Langer's Australia in the Ashes this winter, with managing director Ashley Giles and assistant coach Graham Thorpe also departing.

Langer, meanwhile, quit as Australia coach on Saturday after leading them to their first T20 World Cup win and the number one spot in the ICC's Test rankings.

Langer cited a lack of support from senior players, support staff and the board as the reasons behind his decision to reject the offer of a short-term extension to his contract.

And Hayden, who opened alongside Langer in Test matches for Australia on 113 occasions, believes he would do an excellent job if he took over as England coach.

Reacting to the news of Langer's resignation, Hayden sent a clear message to the ECB, saying: "Sign him up. If he can turn Cricket Australia around in four years, imagine what he could do with the England Cricket Board. God help us."

Hayden also slammed Cricket Australia for the way they have treated Langer, labelling it "appalling".

"One of the great tenets of the Australian cricket team has always been this concept of respect, respect for the baggy green, respect for the elders of the group," he told Channel 7.

"Right now I don’t feel a lot of that. You’re going to have a warrior in Justin Langer who may never want to get back into the fortress of Cricket Australia, and that would be a great loss.

"The current playing group will feel that loss. I’m very upset. I think just the way it’s been handled has been appalling.

"Justin’s leading comment right through this period is to make Australian cricket fans proud. I think he’s achieved that.

"He has been an extremely successful coach. They’re clearly not going on those grounds. They’re clearly going on grounds that are more internal and that members of the public who aren’t inside that dressing room don’t understand.

"As his mate, I don’t understand it. I know him like the back of my hand and I would trust him with my life."

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