REVEALED: Justin Langer’s new coaching gig after ex-Australian mentor vows never to coach again after bitter split
Luscious offers forced him to change his mind to reunite with some Aussie players he still believes are his best coaching years ahead.
Controversial former Australian cricket coach Justin Langer has gone back on his word a year ago about coaching again and has signed with Lucknow Super Giants of the Indian Premier League.
Langer, 52, will take over coaching and replace former England coach Andy Flower at the helm of the IPL franchise.
The former Australian opener quit his Australian role last year after months of coaching Australia to World Twenty20 and Ashes glory.
Losing the locker room after repeated angry outbursts was cited as the main reason.
Langer parted ways with Cricket Australia (CA) after being offered a short contract to stay in charge until the end of the 2022 World Twenty20.
Former Australian cricket coach and former Aussie opening batsman Justin Langer (pic) once said ‘never again’ to coaching but the Indian rupee changed his mind
At the time he wanted a long-term deal which he thought he deserved after an Ashes series win, a drawn series in England and a T20 World Cup.
When he turned down the relatively humiliating CA offer, his emotions told him he would never coach again.
But, it truly seems that time heals all wounds as she is now packing her bags and heading to India.
At the time of the poor CA offer, Langer was interviewed and said: ‘I don’t think I can coach again. No, I don’t think I can coach again,’ he repeated on the Cricket Etc podcast with Australian cricket writers Peter Lalor and Gideon High.
‘The craziness is – and it’s really strange in cricket – if you think about a lot of other codes, the best coaches are much older. It makes no sense in cricket.
‘I say I’m not going to coach anymore, but I think I’m 10 years away from being the best coach.’
Well, he’s not 10 years away from these comments but he has another crack at it.
To keep himself busy while away from Australia’s leadership, the former West Australian opening batsman has been involved in cricket through the media with colorful commentary on Channel Seven.
Aussie batsman Marcus Stoinis is Lucknow’s star attraction and Langer will reunite with him
England quick Mark Wood played for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL earlier this year
In India he will be reunited with Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, one of Lucknow’s star players.
‘Lucknow Super Giants are on a journey to create a great story in the IPL. We all have a role to play in that journey and I’m excited to be part of the team moving forward,’ said Langer.
Lucknow is a new team in the IPL and the team has surprised many by making the playoffs in its first two seasons.
In the Lucknow lineup in 2023 was England pace monster Mark Wood, who was dropped for the first two Ashes Tests, but who earned player of the match honors for his 5-34 in the first innings of the third Test at Leeds.