Langer details leadership vote

On the eve of his first Test campaign as Australia men's team coach, Justin Langer has gazed into the future and identified the dual legacies he would like to leave when his tenure is finished.

The first replicates one of the proudest achievements of his 105-Test career in the Baggy Green Cap – a series win against India on their home turf.

The second explains the radical move he unveiled in Brisbane prior to the re-cast Test squad's departure for the Qantas Tour of the UAE to tackle Pakistan, when half a dozen players presented their leadership credentials to the coach having been nominated by their peers.

Langer's rationale for this breach of accepted Australia cricket protocols, and which he acknowledges he adopted from his recent experiences in the Australian Football League, is part of his ambition to ensure the national team has a pool of potential leaders when he vacates the coach's role.

And is therefore able to fill any leadership vacuum should the unique circumstances that faced him upon taking over from Darren Lehmann – in the wake of the South Africa sandpaper scandal – be replicated in the future.

It's a scenario he has seen unfold – albeit on a smaller, less incendiary scale – during his playing and then coaching days with Western Australia.

Initially, in 2002 when then skipper Simon Katich abruptly quit the Warriors to relocate to Sydney which meant WA fielded four different captains (including Langer) in their first five matches of the 2002-03 Sheffield Shield season.

And again at the start of last summer when the retirement of veteran Adam Voges meant allrounder Mitchell Marsh was elevated to the captaincy and, when he was then called up for national duties, the honour was handed to another 25-year-old, Ashton Turner.

"It comes from AFL footy, and we used it in West Australian cricket last year," Langer told cricket.com.au of the genesis for the shift away from convention.

"I thought it was a really good idea, having spoken to some elite coaches like (former Australia hockey coach) Ric Charlesworth and (AFL premiership coach) Paul Roos about this whole concept of leadership over the last few years.

"Initially there was probably a little bit of resistance because it's not the way you usually do it in cricket.

"But we were in quite an unprecedented period, we have just lost the captain and vice-captain to suspension and leadership positions, or captaincy and vice-captaincy particularly probably came up when we weren't expecting it.

"So, I got a really good feel from the group and they voted."

The 12-month suspensions imposed on ex-Test captain Steve Smith and David Warner led to Tim Paine's installation as national skipper, but no formal decision has been announced by Cricket Australia as to whom his vice-captain will be for the two Tests in the UAE that start on October 7.

In the absence of an anointed deputy, Langer invoked the system employed by AFL clubs – including the West Coast Eagles, where he has served as a board member – and polled the playing group on who they saw as the most effective leaders.

It is understood that, in addition to incumbent captain Paine who was not present in Brisbane when the vote was taken, those identified as leadership material were allrounder Marsh, seamer Josh Hazlewood and as-yet-uncapped (at Test level) trio Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Alex Carey.

"My question was, 'If you were the sole selector of Australia, who would you have as captain or vice-captain?'," Langer revealed about the new procedure that overturned the decades-old practice of auxiliary leaders being appointed by selectors and then ratified by the CA board.

"Then the next point was, 'This isn't a popularity contest, so why would they be a captain and vice-captain?'."

The group of six that topped that poll were then asked to prepare a presentation for Langer and a member of his coaching staff the following day; not to address a specific role, but to outline their thoughts on, and approach to, leadership more broadly.

Langer's aim is to ensure that if circumstances demand – whether it be through injury or other unforeseen events – there exists a strong core of potential replacements ready to fill the breach at short notice.

"It's been a really good process, there was six guys who we gave an opportunity to present their vision for Australian cricket and talk about their leadership quality," he said.

"If nothing else, it's brilliant for their leadership development and I talk often about growing leadership within the group organically.

"It doesn't really matter what the title is, you want eleven leaders and this was just one part of that, and there were some other guys who didn't present to us who are equally as important in terms of leadership.

"Some of them have been around a lot longer; some of them might aspire to be a captain down the track, so I think overall the process has been excellent."

Not that Paine's position is under question, given the wholehearted endorsement he received from his new coach.

"I really like Tim Paine, he's got a great work ethic," Langer said of his Test skipper.

"He's a terrific young bloke, he's a really good person, he communicates very well with the players, he's highly regarded by the players, and I think he also has some empathy because he knows it's a tough road.

"His career with his broken finger, you learn a lot from adversity and he would have learned a lot from that. So there's a lot to like about Tim Paine."

Qantas Tour of the UAE

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Sep 29 - Oct 2: Tour match v Pak A, Dubai

Oct 7-11: First Test, Dubai

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi