Justin Langer has revealed that he has not “heard from anyone” at the ECB, thereby ruling him out of contention for the position of England’s Test coach.
Langer, who coached Australia from 2018 to 2022, has been heavily connected with the position after Brendon McCullum was removed of his duties with England’s Test team earlier this month. He also has a lengthy history with ECB chief executive Richard Gould, dating back to their time as Somerset’s captain and CEO in the late 2000s.
Rob Key, England’s managing director, has contacted numerous contenders in recent weeks, and Langer has confirmed that he is not one of them.”No, I haven’t,” Langer responded on an episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast taped on Tuesday morning, when asked if he had been approached by anyone from the ECB. “No, I have not heard from anyone. “You read all this [speculation]… It’s all paper talk and rumours.”
Langer has previously expressed uncertainty about his ability to coach England, saying “the thought of coaching England… mate!” in a speech four years ago. However, he has stated that if contacted, he would consider the post.
“There are three coaching roles in the world for anyone to consider,” he stated. “The Australian, Indian, and English head coaches. But it’s all hypothetical, right? He added: “When it comes to coaching, it’s a career, and everyone looks at all opportunities, don’t they?”
Langer is currently in the UK, coaching in the Hundred.
Leading candidates for the position are thought to be Stephen Fleming, Richard Dawson, Jonathan Trott, and Tom Moody, with Marcus Trescothick possibly being considered as a temporary appointment for England’s next Test series against Pakistan, which begins on August 19.
Andy Flower, the early front-runner for the position, pulled himself out of contention earlier this month, stating that he was “very happy” with his present roles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and London Spirit.
Langer anticipates “teething issues” with McCullum, who will remain as white-ball coach as England transitions to a split-coaching structure. He also emphasises the importance of selecting “the right people” for support staff. When asked to guess on who would fill the post, he replied, “I have no idea.”
“They’ll need to work effectively with Baz and be very clear about their vision. Great leaders must be very clear about their vision and what they stand for before moving forward.
He is under pressure to perform well after finishing last in the IPL with Lucknow Super Giants this season, and his Manchester squad has started the season with two wins in three games.
