Derek Pringle has warned that Justin Langer would "not be a good fit" as England 's new head coach, despite suggestions the 51-year-old is being considered as a potential replacement for Chris Silverwood.
Silverwood was axed by England in the wake of their humiliating 4-0 defeat in the Ashes. Langer, meanwhile, quit as Australia 's head coach following that same series, citing a lack of support from senior players, support staff and the board as the reason behind his decision.
And Langer is thought to be open to the possibility of becoming England head coach, with several former England captains talking up his chances of getting the job. Nasser Hussain has claimed he is "the type of character England need at the moment", while Michael Vaughan believes there is nobody "better suited than Justin Langer" to coach England.
However, Pringle feels it is "unlikely" that Langer will get the job given the way his tenure as Australia's head coach ended. The players were said to be unhappy with his coaching style and Test captain Pat Cummins even admitted as much.
"I think the players benefit from a more collaborative approach," Cummins said following Langer's resignation. "A big theme this summer was to be more calm, more composed.
"That's been the feedback from the players, staff and Cricket Australia that that's the direction we want to take the team." And Pringle believes Langer's coaching style will simply not work with England's players, suggesting Gary Kirsten would be a better fit.
"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."
