Australia legend Justin Langer has reportedly been overlooked by England in their search for a new head coach.
Langer had been heavily linked with the job, having quit as Australia head coach following the 4-0 win over England in the recent Ashes series. Reports had claimed he was open to the prospect of coaching England.
However, according to a new report from the Telegraph, Langer is now 'out of the running for the job', with England looking to split the head coach role between red and white ball cricket. The report also states that England have 'reservations over whether he would work well with Ben Stokes ', with the all-rounder set to be named the new Test captain.
It is claimed that England feel a 'strongman head coach like Langer' would have been a better fit had Joe Root remained skipper, with the 31-year-old needing 'back-up from a forceful personality behind him'. However, Stokes is said to 'need a coach who is good tactically and a facilitator behind the scenes'.
Earlier this month, former England bowler Derek Pringle laid bare his concerns over Langer being named as Chris Silverwood's replacement. "There was a time when English cricket slavishly sought Australian know-how but I’m not sure the desire has endured," Pringle wrote in a column for the Metro.
"Which is why I think Justin Langer, tipped by some to be the next England head coach, is unlikely to get that job. Langer was a fine, gutsy player but if the current Aussie team felt his coaching style too intense, he will not be a good fit for England, despite calls from some that they need tough love.
"Modern players just don’t respond to old-school rigour with its (often shouted) one-way conversations, especially when things go wrong. They demand a relationship with their coach based on mutual respect and clear, calm advice.
"They are high maintenance and the best coaches like Gary Kirsten, another linked with the England job, realise that and work with it, applying just the right amount of firm touch." Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key is the man responsible for appointing the new head coach and he previously expressed reservations over Langer's coaching style.
"We see this whole thing going on in Australia where it doesn't look like the players have a great deal of time for Justin Langer," Key told Sky Sports. "He's a bit of hard taskmaster, but they've come back from sandpaper-gate, they've won the T20 World Cup and they've won the Ashes easily."
