Socceroos boss helps out Langer

CRICKET: Justin Langer picked the brains of Socceroos counterpart Graham Arnold on the eve of the second Ashes Test, continuing his trend of learning from outside the cricket bubble.

Arnold was a guest of honour at Lord’s, on Tuesday, when Steve Smith was among the Australians on deck for an optional training session.

Arnold wasn’t in a position to offer counsel about whether Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc should claim the final spot in the XI for the Test.

But the former Sydney FC mentor, who is checking in with his Europe-based players while plotting plans for Australia’s World Cup qualifying campaign that starts in September, shared plenty of thoughts about professional sport.

Much of the discussion focused on how Arnold approaches dealing with so many clubs throughout the world and their managers, while attempting to ensure the Socceroos’ interests aren’t an afterthought.

“All the language is the same, obviously it’s just a different sport. It’s all about man management, communication and building a lot of trust within your players,” Arnold said.

“The main purpose of (attending training) was obviously as a very proud Australian, to support the Australian cricket team.

“But also to catch up with Justin Langer and Steve Waugh.”

Langer, who sits on the board of AFL club the West Coast Eagles, has borrowed pages from other sporting playbooks in the past.

AFL coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan both chewed the fat with Langer at the MCG on Christmas Eve last year, while he also learned plenty from former Hockeyroos coach Ric Charlesworth.