England should be 'jumping' at Justin Langer, says Australian legend
- Joe Hewlett
- 23 February 2022
England are looking for a new head coach and Justin Langer could be available after leaving his role with Australia.
Shane Warne believes England should jump at the chance of appointing Justin Langer as their new head coach.
England parted ways with Chris Silverwood following a crushing 4-0 defeat to the hands of Australia - and it was Langer who was in charge of the Baggy Greens.
Langer - who also led Australia to T20 World Cup glory - rejected a short-term contract extension from Cricket Australia and resigned from his role as coach.
He is now one of the front-runners to replace Silverwood alongside Paul Collingwood, who has been made interim England coach for the upcoming tour to the West Indies.
Warne - who retired with 708 Test wickets for Australia - said England would be foolish not to appoint Langer.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Warne also expressed his disappointment at the treatment of Langer by Australia.
"If I were England, I'd be jumping at him," Warne said.
"Winning an Ashes and a World Cup, it doesn't get much bigger than that for Australia, but for me [Langer] was a dead man walking when I didn't hear the captain or any other players sticking up for him, saying he was fantastic. I found that really disappointing.
"Why couldn't Cricket Australia come out and say they were not renewing his contract straight away but would wait until the end of the summer, see who the best candidate is and if Langer is still the best candidate give him a contract?
"I thought it was pretty poorly handled and that Cricket Australia were disgraceful in the way they handled it."
Anderson being dropped makes sense
James Anderson and Stuart Broad were left out of England's squad to face the West Indies despite taking a combined 1,171 Test wickets.
Mark Wood, Chris Wood, Ollie Robinson, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Fisher are the seam bowlers who have been selected in front of them alongside all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Warne said he wasn't too surprised by England's decision to drop the prolific bowling duo, especially Anderson.
"I wasn't surprised Anderson got left out. He is England's best-ever bowler and when the conditions suit he is still a handful but when it was flat [in Australia] I think he struggled.
"He bowled a nice line and length, was economical and could dry up and end and could do a role with firepower at the other end. But I think he needs conditions.
"You want him to play in England and if he plays in the West Indies after the Ashes series it is going to be hard in England so I don't mind him having a break - but I would have played Broad.
"I think at times he bowled really well in Australia. People lump Broad and Anderson in together but Broad is four years younger than Anderson, so I am surprised Broad didn't go to the West Indies."
