I was still playing for NSW when a young Justin Langer first played first class cricket for Western Australia in the early 1990s.
He arrived on the scene at a time when cricketers were semi-professional but he had a 100% professional approach to the game. Each state played 10 very intense Sheffield Shield games and a final that Steve Waugh would call “The 6th test of the summer.”
The Australian test players played most games which gave the competition a huge lift in standard and intensity and served to prepare our Test Team for any challenge in World Cricket.
As I recall Justin was greeted with a baptism of fire from the NSW bowlers and fielders.
He toughed it out, which was how you were judged and critiqued in those days.
His career statistics tells you he was a fine player. His opening combination with Matt Hayden was the cornerstone of the Australian Teams success over a long period.
In the decades before coaches became a thing, players were mentored by more experienced players, and at times even by the opposition as they all looked to help a young player learn the game.
In 1981 Peter Philpott was named Australian Coach followed by Bob Simpson and others followed.
Unlike Football, the Captain had always been in charge of a cricket team. What the captain said, was the way it was, and the coach was simply support staff.
In my opinion the role of Head Coach could be subtle and called ‘manager’.
Coordinating batting, bowling and fielding drills to prepare the games.
Instead we have created a head coach role where the coach can even be a selector in a dressing room of a high pressure performance based environment. Someone will always be disappointed.
There is way too many people involved in the management of the Australian Cricket Team.
This debacle has highlighted that success doesn’t guarantee you a job.
The real issue for Cricket Australia is to have decision makers who understand the cricket at all levels especially the first classlevel.
Losing people with the experience of Hayden and Taylor from the Cricket Australia Board is costly especially when it’s people who haven’t played at first class level to make a judgement on Justin Langer’s coaching career.
I feel Justin’s disappointment as he is a mentor you want in your corner.
When he started his career it was extremely tough. Players were invited to play based on their performance and they had to step up even further to stay involved.
I feel the young players today don’t have to worry about survival as much. Full time Contracts and T20 tournaments give them lots of options to expand their career, achieve their dreams and make a living.
Justin’s faults can be attributed to a past era where you had to be tough and respectful to those who earned and deserved it.
Not something the modern day player would worry about.
Justin Langer is a great fella and I hope he’s not lost to the game.
Pat Cummins is also a great fella and he’s being tested now. It’s his time and his team.
Is it time to appoint a manager, not a coach who is a selector to help him out?
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