Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has conceded the future of senior players, as well as coach Justin Langer, is on the line at both the T20 World Cup and the Ashes.
Australia has won its sole match at the World Cup to date, a five-wicket victory over South Africa on Saturday. Only the top two teams in the group will advance to the semi-finals, and Australia’s match against Sri Lanka tomorrow night will go a long way to deciding the fate of the respective sides.
Opening batter David Warner turns 35 today, while his opening partner, captain Aaron Finch, reaches the same mark next month. Both would likely want to play on at least until Australia hosts the T20 World Cup next year, but neither is in career-best form right now.
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In the longer form of the game, Test captain Tim Paine turns 37 on the opening day of the Ashes series in December, while the future of coach Langer remains uncertain.
Speaking on Nine’s Today, Clarke said the four will be judged purely on results.
“In regards to Lang and the players, you look at Aaron Finch, David Warner in the T20s, if we win they hold their place, if we don’t they’ll be under pressure,” he said.
“The Ashes are going to be the same, Tim Paine as captain, and a lot of these players, if we can win the series, Justin Langer as coach will keep his job.
“But if we don’t, that comes with the role. We’re so results driven in everything we do that everyone respects that.
“I think Lang gets that as well.”
Clarke noted the criticism that had been directed at Langer over an extended period, which the coach himself described recently as “humbling”.
Reports emerged during last summer’s defeat to India that Langer was “losing” the dressing room, with his intense approach to the job putting a number of players offside.
A mid-year white ball overseas tour only made things worse, with Australia thrashed by both West Indies and Bangladesh, while Langer was alleged to have been involved in a heated confrontation with a Cricket Australia staffer.
“He’s copped it, JL,” Clarke said.
“Lang’s a great man, I loved playing with him, he was batting coach and assistant coach when I was captain, and he did a great job.
“The one thing about Lang’s style is he’s tough.
“There’s a lot of expectation that he has on himself as a person, a player and now a coach, but he’s got that same expectation on his team.
“Some players don’t like that, some players really enjoy that, and that’s the balance in coaching a professional sporting team.
“You’ve got to get the best out of each individual, and that’s easier said than done.”
Australia’s Ashes assignment became more difficult earlier this week, when England named all-rounder Ben Stokes as a late addition to its squad.
Stokes has recovered from a broken finger that required two operations, and also took a break from the game to deal with mental health issues.
“It’s great that Stokesy is coming,” Clarke said.
“Ben Stokes’ journey is one that I think every sports lover should take a look at.
“You talk about someone who went through some really tough times and hit rock bottom, but he’s been able to turn things around.
“He’s a good man, a tough competitor, and he’ll help that England team, there’s no doubt about it.”
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