Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia chief has not ruled out the possibility of current Aussie coach Justin Langer’s role being split, or for players to have input over his future, as the governing body holds firm on its coaching timeline despite the recent success of the national men’s team.
Justin Langer’s position should hardly be stronger, but he is being made to wait until the end of the home season before learning if his contract will be extended. It is a curious position for the head coach to be in after Australia’s maiden men’s T20 world title and with victory imminent in this season’s one-sided Ashes series and reflects what has been an uneasy relationship between Justin Langer and his charges – as revealed by this masthead in January.
Nick Hockley Not Ruled Out The Possibility Of Justin Langer’s Role Being Split
The concept of appointing a coach for particular formats is not new but, though Justin Langer and his predecessor Darren Lehmann have had deputies step in for a few of the white-ball tours, Cricket Australia has not deviated from the traditional structure for the all-important role.
There have been calls from the Australian cricket fraternity to split the job for red and white-ball formats, including from former captain Steve Waugh. Such a move would ease the burden on the head coach, a point former coach Darren Lehmann alluded to in 2017 when he spoke of the difficulty in going on every tour due to the demands of the heavy international schedule.
There is speculation in Australian cricket circles assistant coaches Michael Di Venuto and Andrew McDonald were hired to take more white-ball tours, but Justin Langer was adamant last week he wanted to remain as head coach in all three forms of the game.
Asked on Sunday if the role would be split, Nick Hockley said: “That’s something we’ll look at towards the end of the season.”
Trailing by 124 runs, Australia ended Day 1 of the ongoing third Ashes Test match posting 61 for one at Stump’s against England at the MCG in Melbourne, on Sunday. The hosts lost the crucial wicket of David Warner, who was dismissed by James Anderson after registering 38 runs off 42 balls.
Earlier, England was bowled out for 185. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were the picks of the Australian bowlers, taking three wickets each. Mitchell Starc took two while Cameron Green and debutant Scott Boland also picked a wicket each to put Australia in the driver’s seat. For England, captain Joe Root was the standout, scoring yet another fifty. Marcus Harris and Nathan Lyon will resume batting for Australia on Day 2.
Nick Hockley Said Justin Langer Would Remain Coach Till His Contract Ends
But Nick Hockley said Justin Langer would remain until the end of his four-year contract, which expires in June, and expressed his take in the mooted Test tour of Pakistan.
“There’s no question Justin will see out his contract. That goes out to the middle of next year,” Hockley said. “Obviously, once we get through the Ashes we want to sit down and work out where we want to go from there.”
Australian players may also have a say as to whether the coach remains. White ball skipper Aaron Finch, new Test skipper Pat Cummins, and former tainted Test skipper Tim Paine were involved in frank discussions with Justin Langer in August over his coaching methods. Earlier this year, Australia won its maiden T20 World Cup title and the side is on the verge of retaining the Ashes.
“We’re going to sit down and work through what that process entails at that time, then we’ll be able to say more,” Hockley said.
Nick Hockley said it was CA’s intention to honour its obligation to tour Pakistan for the first time in 23 years “as long as it’s safe to do so”. A delegation of CA and Australian Cricketers Association officials recently returned from a reconnaissance trip of Asian country Pakistan, a routine procedure before tours.
Nick Hockley said home and away white-ball series against New Zealand later this season were not under threat, despite requirements for anyone entering that country to serve time in quarantine.