Banned trio in Langer's sights for next year

Justin Langer says there's "no reason" why banned trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft shouldn't be welcomed back into the Australian fold for next year's World Cup and Ashes campaigns.

Smith and Warner are set to appear in Sydney Premier cricket this weekend, with Australian cricket's eyes to turn to two picket-lined ovals in Sydney's south.

Smith will line up for Sutherland alongside upcoming prospect Austin Waugh against Mosman at Glenn McGrath Oval, while at Coogee Oval, Warner will partner with rising star Jason Sangha for Randwick-Petersham against St George. 

It's a long road from Sydney Premier Cricket to the heights of the international game, but speaking on Mark Howard's podcast The Howie Games this week, Langer said he had no doubt that the pair, alongside Bancroft, could return to the Australian set-up for a long campaign in England in 2019. 

"If our environment's right and they're playing well, there's no reason they shouldn't be welcomed back in to help us win the World Cup and help us win the Ashes next summer," Langer said.

"If we can have an environment of great young leaders and welcome those guys back, we can be a real force and perhaps a team that's smiling a lot more than the team was before it happened."

Langer expressed his admiration for the trio, expanding on the characteristics he believes each would bring to the Australian side. 

"Steve Smith is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life. He's also a complete cricket tragic," Langer said. 

"He's a ripping young bloke. And what a player. As committed to batting and being great as anyone you'll ever meet

"Cameron is as elite a professional as anyone I've ever met. He was the heartbeat of Western Australia and from all accounts, talking to Darren Lehmann, he was the heartbeat of the Australian team. 

"He is that tough, he would literally cut his legs off to play cricket for Australia. He is that sort of character that you love to have around the place.

"Davey's the marathon man of Australian cricket, people don't remember that. He'd played every single game of cricket. He'd play Test, One Day, T20, IPL, cricket all year round.

"He was being hailed as a great leader in that finally Australia was playing good T20."

In the wide-ranging interview, Langer also touched on how he saw his role as coach, building a positive environment that would encourage players to do right.  

"Since the first day I got the job as head coach of Western Australia I always thought my job was to help these guys not only become great cricketers but also become great people," Langer said.

"I think it is as important for them to become great cricketers as it is for them to become great Australians and I believe that as the Australian head coach.

"You've got to pick people up on good behaviour and bad behaviour. So if they do something really well you put your arm around them and say ‘well done, that's how we do it around here'. 

"And I say that whether it's the cricket team or my family or in the business world. If someone does something well, make sure you give them a pat on the back because that's encouraging great behaviour. 

"But when they don't, you've got to have the courage to look them in the eyes – that's the Aussie way and I know it – and say ‘no, that's not how we do it around here mate. That's not how we do it'.

"Because if you let people get away with poor behaviour you've got a bad culture. And if you encourage good behaviour, you've got a good environment."