by sussexpob » Mon Feb 07, 2022 12:42 am
There are two issues in play here - was he the right man for the job, and regardless of that, was he treated with the respect a legend of Australian cricket should merit in the way this all went about.
In the latter case, its very easy - the way he has been treated is abysmal. He won an Ashes and a T20 world cup, and essentially got told he was fired, but because they had no reason or no real conviction about firing him, sort of game him 6 months so they could formulate an idea about what to do with him left in limbo. Accepting that deal would have been humiliating for Langer, and a person of his standing in Australian cricket should never have been treated with that disrespect. If you wanted rid, talk to him like a man and tell him.... dont string him on with this nonsense.
As for the former question, the answer is a lot harder. I have to admit, despite having a slight bias towards Langer (due to enjoying watching him bat for all those years) as a person he seems incredibly difficult to gauge. At points he seems flat out insane; like when Ricky Ponting says he nearly had to forfeit a test to South Africa a few years ago because with the team 8 down, Langer padded up after being sent to hospital after a sickening head blow that knocked him out, and despite the doctor telling him an immediate repeat blow was likely to kill or permanently disable him, would literally not hear a word about leaving the team a few runs short on a retired hurt.
Sometimes he is a devout catholic, other times he's writing about how to become zen and improve your life, other times he's a kung-fu master proclaiming why being small in height makes you better in a street fight, others he espouses the most middle of the road conservative gammon style politics. Sometimes he's dismissive....sometimes passive aggressive to the extreme...others just aggressive... then for dessert gives you a self help lecture about considering the lily.
In short, I dont think there is a man who comes across of less of an enigma that springs to mind. Being an enigma though doesnt mean he's a bad person, nor a bad coach. The fact that those who are in a position to speak about him openly (ie retired with nothing at stake) and have spent a lot of time with him, seem to have spoken warmly about him; and in cricketing terms, there are few people (if any) who's opinion matter more than Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting.... both came out in full defence of him. That says a lot to me.
When you think of what Langer has had to face in a short amount of time - first, taking over a team that lost its two best batsman, its captain, and was probably at its lowest ebb in the history of Australian sport. And after he weathered that storm, then came Covid. Its a tough enough job in normal times on long tours, but bubbles, lockdowns and go knows what else just heighten tensions and are just much more difficult. I wonder if any teams could go through all this for 2 years and not have problems with members of squads, or with coach's struggling to maintain relationships with players in such conditions. I think when you look at performances, you have to keep that in mind.
As for those performances - losing to BD. Back to back losses to India at home.... balanced with T20 WC and an Ashes landslide (as well as the best away Ashes result since 2001 for OZ). Its mixed to say the least, but the trend is up, and the team just feels like its come a long way. Right now, especially in tests, they look a pretty good unit.
In the end I personally think he should be given more time. The failures need to be more acute, and he needs to get a shot to see what he can do in normal times, without another scandal, without covid's impact.
2010 French Open fantasy league guru 2010 Wimbledon fantasy league guru 2014 Masters golf fantasy guru 2015 Players Championship FL Guru 2016 Masters Golf Fantasy Guru
And a hat and bra to you too, my good sirs!