Justin Langer unlikely to step down as Australia coach: Steve Waugh

Former Australia cricketer Steve Waugh is backing Australia head coach Justin Langer to continue at the position for a longer period. Interestingly, the discussion around his position is a little bit weird given that Australia won the T20 World Cup on November 14 putting up a fearless performance especially in the final against New Zealand.

The topic was teased upon by another former Australia Michael Clarke who felt Langer might step away from the top position if they manage to win the Ashes at home this summer. England and Australia are set to renew their rivalry in the Ashes from December 8 at The Gabba. However, Waugh feels Langer, for being the fighter he is, might just continue.

“I talk to him regularly and he has never talked to me about stepping down or backing away from a challenge. His whole career he was up against it. He was always a player on the edge, the next one to be dropped and will he get into the side? In a lot of ways it motivates him. You see it again, when you think he is down he just comes back and succeeds (with the T20 World Cup win). That’s just in his nature,” Waugh said according to The West Australian.

Steve Waugh also pointed out Langer’s contribution to the team since taking over during the ball-tampering scandal in 2018. “He knows there are no free rides. But I think what he and Tim Paine and Aaron Finch have done since Cape Town has been a pretty amazing transformation. You can’t forget what has happened to the side and what they have done,” Waugh added.