Stand-in coach says taste of the action has helped sway him that a future full-time position could be perfect
Langer warms to Aussie coaching gig
Test cricket great Justin Langer surprised himself with how much he enjoyed coaching Australia, and the marvels of modern technology might yet convince him to take on the role full-time in the future.
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Langer guided Australia to the one-day tri-series trophy on their recent Qantas Tour of the Caribbean, but the role was only temporary while coach Darren Lehmann took some time off.
Lehmann has previously stated that Langer would be his perfect successor – a view widely shared within Australian cricket ranks.
Langer's family commitments meant he was no guarantee to ever accept the top coaching role full-time – even if it was offered to him on a silver platter down the track.
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But after getting a taste of what it would be like to coach Australia, Langer feels he might be able to juggle the work-life balance after all.
"Well Skype's an amazing thing," Langer said.
"When I came home, it felt like I hadn't really been away, because you're actually seeing each other a couple of times a day.
"I always thought getting back into that business (of being on the road) for 11 months of the year would be really hard. But it was good fun."
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Lehmann is keen to keep coaching until at least 2019, when Australia travel to England for their World Cup defence and an Ashes series.
A succession plan involving Langer could loom as an ideal option for Australian cricket after that.
But Langer is well aware he won't even be in CA's plans if he flops as coach of Western Australia over the next few seasons.
"It's given me the inspiration to come home and be a really good coach here," Langer said.
"If I'm a good coach, I might get an opportunity in the future. If I'm a rubbish coach, then I won't. That's the business, and that's life."
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Langer has enjoyed good success with WA and the Perth Scorchers since being appointed coach in late 2012.