Langer named coach for SL series

Western Australia coach Justin Langer will take the helm of Australia’s T20 team next February while Darren Lehmann and the Test side prepare for the first Test in India.

Langer will take charge for the three KFC T20 INTLs against Sri Lanka starting in Melbourne on February 17 before moving to Geelong (Feb 19) and Adelaide (Feb 22), with the final match to be played the day before Australia’s opening Test against India in Pune. 

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The 46-year-old filled in for Lehmann this winter for Australia’s one-day international tri-series in the Caribbean while the full-time coach had a break after a hectic period in the top job and now gets another opportunity in the game’s shortest format. 

Under Langer, Australia beat the West Indies and South Africa to win the triangular ODI series, peaking at the right end of the tournament to crush the hosts by 58 runs in the final. 

While the former Australia batsman had plenty of success at Test level as a player, in the role as coach he’s found great success in T20 cricket having guided the Perth Scorchers to three KFC big Bash League finals and back-to-back titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with the national side in the Caribbean earlier this year and so I am excited and very grateful to get this opportunity to do it again, this time with the Twenty20 International squad against Sri Lanka," Langer said. 

"Twenty20 International cricket is the one format in which Australia is yet to win a global tournament so every chance we get to play it and develop our skills is very significant. That means these three matches will be hugely important.

"The advantage myself and the players will have is that the series will come just over two weeks after the KFC Big Bash League wraps up so we should all still be in Twenty20 mode.

"And with several senior players set to be in India ahead of the Test series, it really will give players an added incentive to perform in the upcoming KFC BBL to put their names forward for selection in the Sri Lanka series.

"Thanks to the officials at the Western Australia Cricket Association for giving me the chance to take on this challenge and thanks, too, to Cricket Australia for having faith in me to do it."

Many see Langer as the obvious successor to Lehmann when the incumbent coach’s contract expires after the Ashes and World Cup in 2019.

Lehmann’s contract was extended by two years until October 2019 during the Sri Lanka Test series where he indicated he’ll likely finish up at the end of his new deal after six years in the role.

"I love the job, but it's a job you can't do forever either," Lehmann said in August.

"So whatever opportunities we can give to the guys (fellow members of the coaching staff) along the way we certainly will do.

"And then it's up to the (Cricket Australia) Board and Team Performance department what they do from there."

Cricket Australia Executive General Manager – Team Performance Pat Howard says Langer's vast experience and glowing track record made him the ideal candidate.

"We are delighted that Justin has agreed to undertake the role of acting Head Coach for the Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka," Howard said. "We would also like to thank WACA for their support in releasing Justin.

"He did a terrific job in the Caribbean in June when he stepped in for Darren Lehmann during the successful tri-series and so is already familiar with the working environment around the Australia team.

"He brings a wealth of experience as both a player and a coach and his record in helping the Perth Scorchers to a sustained level of success in the KFC Big Bash League means he fits the bill in all ways."

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