Strauss 'wouldn't rule out' appointing Langer as England's head coach

Could Justin Langer become England’s new coach? Andrew Strauss ‘wouldn’t rule out’ sensational appointment of old Ashes rival after he quit Australia post… as legends Ponting and Hayden fume at his ’embarrassing’ treatment

  • Justin Langer quit as coach of the Australian cricket team on Saturday
  • It came hours after Andrew Strauss said he would be considered for England job
  • Chris Silverwood was sacked earlier this week following Ashes debacle
  • Cricket Australia only offered Langer a short extension to contract up in June
  • He had just overseen a T20 World Cup triumph and thumping win over England
  • Legends Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden slammed Langer’s treatment 

Andrew Strauss ‘wouldn’t rule out’ appointing Justin Langer as England’s new head coach in what would be a sensational switch of loyalties from Ashes rivals Australia.

Just hours before Langer quit his post as Australia’s coach on Saturday, Strauss admitted he would be considered to replace Chris Silverwood and be tasked with reviving England’s ailing Test team.

It came as Aussie cricket legends vented their fury at Cricket Australia for their ’embarrassing’ treatment of Langer, who was offered only a short-term extension to a contract that expires in June.

Justin Langer returns to Perth following his resignation as coach of Australia’s cricket team

Langer (front row, second right) has just overseen a thumping Ashes victory over England

Australia also won the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in November last year

That prompted Langer, 51, to tender his resignation with immediate effect, ending months of speculation over his future in the national coach role.

Langer had done much to restore the reputation of Australian cricket following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal and had just overseen a 4-0 Ashes win over England hot on the heels of victory in the T20 World Cup.

Langer’s coaching style wasn’t to everyone’s taste, however, with an external review last year finding some players thought him too harsh, leading to a poor relationship with the team.

But now the odds are shortening on Langer taking on the England job after Silverwood was axed earlier this week following the debacle Down Under.

Strauss, who is serving as interim managing director of English cricket, enjoys a close relationship with Langer having played together at Middlesex.

He said: ‘I know him well and on the surface he’s done a very good job with that Australian cricket team so I would’t rule him out [for the coaching job].’

But he also added: ‘I’m sure there are plenty of others as well.’

Andrew Strauss, who is serving as England’s interim managing director, said he ‘wouldn’t rule out’ Langer for the coach role just hours before he quit the Australia job

 Langer was praised cleaning up Australian cricket following the ball tampering scandal

Next England coach odds 

Justin Langer 5/6

Gary Kirsten 9/4

Alec Stewart 3/1

Paul Collingwood 7/2

Ricky Ponting 5/1

Courtesy of Betfair 

It followed a brutal week in which Silverwood, managing director Ashley Giles and batting coach Graham Thorpe all lost their jobs in a complete overhaul at the top of English cricket.

Test team captain Joe Root survived the cull, however, and can focus on leading England against West Indies next month.

Intriguingly, Strauss also said: ‘I personally feel someone with an outside view who can check and challenge the thoughts within the dressing room is a healthy thing.’

His remarks were enough to move Langer from odds of 5/1 on Friday to the position of 5/6 favourite for the head coach job ahead of South African Gary Kirsten on 9/4.

And Langer immediately won favour from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who believes the ‘cosy’ dressing room needs a shake-up in the wake of their Ashes failure.

He wrote in the Daily Telegraph: ‘I do not see anyone else better suited than Langer to crack heads together and bring some tough management to a group of England players who have become too cosy recently.

‘This England Test team needs some tough love. Joe Root needs a forceful coach next to him too.

‘Gary Kirsten would be a great candidate as well but if you want one person to come in with a huge point to prove than it is Langer.

Graham Thorpe has been axed by Andrew Strauss as England’s post-Ashes shake-up continues

Thorpe’s departure comes after Chris Silverwood (above) was dismissed as head coach

Ashley Giles has also lost his job as England’s managing director this week in the overhaul

‘He is an Ashes winner, T20 World Cup winner and knows everything about playing in Australia. Just go and get him.’

Langer was considered for the England role in 2015 and admitted he gave it serious thought before deciding to stay with Western Australia.

His resignation from the Australia coaching role on Saturday led to a chorus of criticism of Cricket Australia (CA).

Former captain Ricky Ponting said on ABC Radio: ‘It’s been a really poor six months with the way Cricket Australia have handled some of the better people in Australian cricket.

‘Those being Justin Langer and Tim Paine [over the sexting scandal before the Ashes].

‘I think it’s been almost embracing the way they handled those two cases.’

Langer has the potential to shake up an underperforming English dressing room  

Ponting claimed it was ‘a very small group of players and other support staff that had grown tired of Langer’s intense style’

He said: ‘Sounds like he mustn’t have had the full backing of the board. He was very keen to continue on in the role, as he should’ve been, having just won a T20 World Cup and the 4-0 result in the Ashes. 

‘That’s been enough to force a man that has put his life and heart and soul into Australian cricket. 

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has called Cricket Australia’s treatment of resigned national coach Justin Langer ’embarrassing’

‘I actually think it’s a really sad day as far as Australian cricket is concerned.’ 

Matthew Hayden was also angered by the way Langer had been treated. 

‘It could have been a much tighter process,’ Hayden told the ABC.

‘We’re not talking about a rookie. We’re talking about a legend of the game, a centurion, an Ashes-winning and World Cup-winning coach.’




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