CA not rushing on new coach
JUSTIN Langer remains the leading candidate to replace Darren Lehmann as the new Australian cricket coach but won’t be appointed this week.
Cricket Australia moved quickly yesterday to deny a report out of Western Australia that Langer’s appointment would be ratified at a Cricket Australia board meeting on Friday.
Langer is believed to be one of several people who have had informal talks with CA about taking over from Lehmann, who quit in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.
The WA coach remains the preferred choice among many at CA, and is the favourite to win the role. But the board meeting on Friday will only confirm the process by which Lehmann’s replacement is made.
“The process to be undertaken for the appointment of a new Australian men’s head coach will be discussed and agreed at the CA board meeting this Friday,” a CA spokesman said.
“No appointment has been made, and nor will any candidate be put to the board for ratification on Friday. We expect to have a clearer understanding of the approach and appointment timelines following this meeting.”
Langer, who filled in for Lehmann during a one-day series in 2016, said there was a “lot to consider” if he was to be offered the role.
“The complication is that I love my job. I love my job here. I love being on the board of the West Coast Eagles. I love being with my family all the time,” he said.
‘(Coaching Australia) would mean being away 11 months of the year. I love working at the WACA and working with the Scorchers. My family is all in Perth. I am a Perth boy and I love being home. So that’s why it is complicated.”
The CA board meeting on Friday could allow high performance manager Pat Howard to appoint his preferred candidate, or enact a process by which several people are interviewed.
The Australian team currently has two assistant coaches in David Saker and former keeper Brad Haddin, who could also be contenders.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has also been in discussions with CA for some time about his taking on a role.