Justin Langer appointed head coach of Australian Cricket Team
Early this week Justin Langer was appointed head coach of the Australian Cricket team this is one of the most coveted jobs in Australian Sport and comes with a massive responsibility, ever more so after the ball tampering affair which has cast a massive shadow over the game in Australia. The Australian Cricket team has long been regarded as all of Australias team in the sport that is considered a national past time, the ball tampering saga was the end of a number of years of mainly on field scandals that have sullied our Nations Teams reputation at home and abroad.
When the Test Team Captain and Vice Captain admitted to systematic ball tampering during a test against South Africa and had brought in a younger player to do the dirty work it marked the final straw in the publics belief in this team and its leaders. Coach Darren Lehmann eventually fell on his sword and rightfully so as he had overseen a team for the past number of years that wasnt playing Cricket in a way that was sportsman like at all. In comes Justin Langer, Langer grew up and played in the same error as Lehman and many would question whether he is the man to change to rock bottom standards displayed by the Australian team on the field.
As a player Langer got the absolute best out of his god given talents, he wasnt the most flashy player but ended up playing over 100 tests during Australias golden generation where others with perhaps more talent were lucky to play 1 test match. He always played hard but fair cricket, i think he is the right man to take over the leadership reins, his biggest task will be trying to unify a splintered team and usher Steve Smith back in to the fold and perhaps David Warner, interesting times indeed for Australian Cricket.
I hope you all enjoyed my post, please feel free to throw an upvote my way and a comment, would love to hear from you all.
There's one question mark hanging over the decision for me. Given that Langer was already being groomed for the position before the incident in South Africa, is he the man who will drive the required change in the team/dressing room culture
Yeah i agree mate, fresh start though at least!
Exactly. Give him the benefit of the doubt and a chance to make an impact at least.
Langer is one of the grittiest and most determined players ever to don the baggy green. He is a win at all costs kind of guy....so don't expect too many cultural changes from him.
The whole thing has been a bit of a storm in a teacup in my opinion. Ball tampering happens to some degree all the time all over the world. Yes, our boys crossed the line but the public purge and shaming is a bit overdone and possibly just for show.
Yeah mate the media went well and truly overboard...but thats what they do i suppose!
I think Australians tend to hold our sports heroes to a higher standard than most, so the public outrage is a side effect of that.
Given how quickly Australians condemn other nations for anything that is even slightly off, there was no doubt a sense of betrayal for making us all look like hypocrites.