Australia open to splitting coaching role after Langer exit

Published
1
Cricket Australia chairman Lachlan Henderson. — Photo via CA Twitter/File
Cricket Australia chairman Lachlan Henderson. — Photo via CA Twitter/File

Cricket Australia is open to splitting the head coach's role for its men's team following Justin Langer's exit, CA chairman Lachie Henderson said on Monday, conceding it was taxing for one person to coach across formats.

Langer, who guided Australia to their maiden Twenty20 World Cup in November and a 4-0 Ashes triumph against England subsequently, rejected a short-term extension and resigned this month.

Andrew McDonald has been appointed on an interim basis ahead of the team's tour of Pakistan next month and is considered a front-runner for a permanent role.

“I think it is a very time-consuming role for one individual and maybe a more distributed method of coaching is the way of the future,” Henderson told ABC radio when asked if CA would consider separate red and white ball coaches.

“We are going for a single head coach to be installed in the near future. How it plays out after that will depend a bit on that appointment, their availability and how that works across all forms of the game in what's going to be a really busy 12 to 18 months.

“It may be that person is not available for every single tour around the world over the next 18 months,” the CA chief said.

Former all-rounder Shane Watson has also advised splitting the coach's role.

“There is a good chance they will split the roles as I don't think it is sustainable that everyone does every single format for a long period of time,” Watson told the International Cricket Council's show 'The ICC Review'.

“There is always going to be burnout and fatigue in a team environment, especially now with Covid and bubbles and similar situations that are around,” Watson added.

Opinion

Emergency matters

Emergency matters

If this new technocratic setup proves to be successful and efficient, it might just end up increasing centralisation of decision-making.

Editorial

Burnt bridges
Updated 20 Oct, 2026

Burnt bridges

If PPP wants the decision reversed, it should convince its ally in Islamabad, not ask the opposition to be ‘positive’.
Toll on trade
Updated 20 Oct, 2026

Toll on trade

Islamabad must find the right balance between its security priorities and the economic strain on KP’s residents.
French protests
20 Oct, 2026

French protests

SEVERAL European states have witnessed mass protests over the past few days, mostly focusing on socioeconomic...
Eating grass for AI
Updated 19 Oct, 2026

Eating grass for AI

As dependence on AI grows, the bill could reach hundreds of millions of dollars by the end of the decade.
Climate exodus
Updated 19 Oct, 2026

Climate exodus

Climate displacement could then become another source of instability unless governments prepare for it together.
Settler terrorism
19 Oct, 2026

Settler terrorism

ISRAEL’S genocidal violence in occupied Gaza has understandably captured the world’s attention. Yet another...