cricket

Updated: May 04, 2018 16:05 IST

Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann has welcomed the appointment of his former teammate Justin Langer as the next head coach of the Australian cricket team.

Lehmann was forced to quit as the Australian head coach after the ball-tampering episode from the Cape Town Test rocked the cricketing world, with many raising fingers on the team atmosphere that stayed on during his tenure.

While admitting that he would miss being the coach of the Australian cricket team, Lehmann said the future of the team is in good hands.

Lehmann was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au, “Having watched JL’s press conference, I’m just so pleased that Australian cricket is going to be in such good hands. He’s got the best job in the world, and I know it’s a job that I’ll miss because I loved every minute of it.

“But this is a time that Australian cricket needs to move forward and they couldn’t have a better person to lead them now.”

This combination of pictures created on March 29, 2018 shows former head coach of the Australia cricket team Darren Lehmann wiping his eyes and responding to questions on ball tampering scandal during a press conference in Johannesburg on March 29, 2018 at which he announced his resignation. ( AFP )

Lehmann extended his support to the current Australian cricket team sans Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who all are serving bans each from cricket.

“He (Langer) has got a really good group of players and they’ll play in an exciting way, and I’m really looking forward to watching them do that,” Lehmann said.

“They all bring different attributes, but they are all such good professional athletes and as he’ll already know they’re so much fitter and stronger than any players from our era,” Lehmann added.

BACK THE NEW COACH

“We just have to get behind them as a nation, support the new coach and captains, but also support those guys that aren’t playing as well. I was really pleased that Justin made mention of those three guys (Smith, Warner and Bancroft) who aren’t playing at the moment because they are, and they’ll continue to be, valuable players for the future of Australian cricket.”

“He didn’t close the door on anyone, and I think that’s an important message,” he added.

‘Langer will find the right balance’

Justin Langer speaks to the media in Melbourne on May 3, 2018. ( REUTERS )

Lehmann expressed confidence that Langer is the right person to lead Australia into a new era, with many in the cricket world anticipating that the ‘good, hard cricket’ from Down Under would be without ugly sledging and on-field episodes.

New coach Justin Langer on the biggest challenge facing the Aussies. pic.twitter.com/6EBGg9EPeW — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) May 3, 2018

“He (Langer) spoke passionately about how he wants them to play, and he’s going to find the right balance that works best for that group. There’s no doubt that the toughest time in that job is when the team’s not winning.

.@LouisDBCameron shadowed Justin Langer on his first day on the job and got some fascinating insights into his mind and generosity: https://t.co/pxzqUBndI0 pic.twitter.com/0Apq1XJd8V — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) May 3, 2018

New Aussie coach Justin Langer says he's not as serious as you might think... pic.twitter.com/C99EmTiYhG — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) May 3, 2018

“As he said in his media conference, winning away from home is the ambition for every team, but winning at home is also paramount. Winning away is everyone’s aspiration, but if you don’t win at home that starts to present its own challenges,” Lehmann concluded.