Aussie prepare to take punt
Hurricanes, who are top of the table in the Big Bash League.
It’s understood Ponting is in the running to join Langer’s support team for part of Australia’s assignments in England. The former test captain had a coaching role last year during the one-day international series against England, which was Langer’s first at the helm since being appointed.
Ponting was Darren Lehmann’s right-hand man for a Twenty20 triseries last year and had also assisted Langer in the format for matches against Sri Lanka in 2017 which clashed with a test tour of India.
More recently, Ponting was invited by Langer to a training session before the Perth test, where he worked closely with Aaron Finch, who made his only halfcentury of the season the day after.
Ponting’s commitments mean it’s unlikely he will be available for the full stretch in England but any involvement by one of the country’s greatest players will be a coup for CA.
There is also disquiet among players at the environment within the side with some still getting used to the change from Lehmann’s more relaxed attitude to Langer’s intensity.
Saker had come under the microscope after Australia’s moderate performances with the ball last year but the game changer for him came when Langer was named as the successor to Lehmann.
Lehmann had signed Saker in 2016, luring the former England bowling coach away from his post at Victoria, months after he led his home state to the Shield title in his only season.
Exactly why he has walked so close before Australia defend their two most cherished prizes is unknown but it’s believed Saker, 52, with his old school methods and preparedness to give players a spray, and Langer did not always see eye to eye. It’s rare for an assistant to win a battle with a head coach.
‘‘David and I have had ongoing discussions over the past nine months about his role with the team, and we agreed it’s the right time to head in a different direction in the best interests of the team,’’ said Langer, who was appointed nine months ago.
Langer later said family had been a factor behind Saker’s departure though those close to him disagreed.
‘‘It’s not really a surprise to be honest,’’ Langer said. ‘‘In the perfect world it would have been cleaner at the end of it but the world is not always clean and works exactly how you want it to work. I’m all good with it.’’
Mitchell Starc praised NSW bowling coach, New Zealander Andre Adams during the Canberra test, in which he claimed 10 wickets, but made no reference to Saker.
‘‘[I put] the rest of the coaching and the other 450 coaches I’ve had over the past three weeks to the side, and going back to know what I know best,’’ Starc said. ‘‘I am my own best coach and I know what’s best for me.’’
Saker was damning in his criticism of Australia’s short-pitched tactics after the first day of the SCG test against India, suggesting ‘‘confusion’’ between the bowlers and Tim Paine.
Vice-captain and seamer Josh Hazlewood and Paine later downplayed the comments, saying they were not unusual.