Former Australian cricket coach Justin Langer is open to the possibility of coaching arch-rivals England, according to a report.
Langer, who recently came off a 4-0 Ashes series win with the Australians, walked away from his role as the Australian coach in February after being offered just a six-month contract extension, regardless of performance.
After former England coach Chris Silverwood stepped down just days prior to Langer’s decision, the ex-Australian has since been mentioned as a potential replacement.
READ MORE: Key mission facing Latrell and co. pinpointed
READ MORE: Mercedes: ‘No way’ car will be competitive soon
READ MORE: Franklin re-united with milestone ball
According to The London Telegraph, Langer is now interested in speaking with the England and Wales Cricket Board about the vacant head coaching position.
But a decision on England’s next head coach isn’t expected to come soon, with the ECB prioritising its vacant director of cricket role, which they hope to announce in mid-April according to the report.
It’s understood interviews for that position will commence this week.
England’s white and red-ball teams are set for a busy period on the road over the next couple of years, which could see the coaching roles split, the report also states.
Former England cricket white-ball captain Paul Collingwood, who’s the current interim coach of the West Indies, is considered a candidate for England’s short format side.
“It was always my challenge to leave this team in a better place than when I first got it, and I personally feel as though it’s a lot stronger now,” he said. “I haven’t got much experience as a head coach, but you would never get a job if that’s the case. I’d want to make the team a lot better as quickly as possible.”
England on Monday suffered a shock Test series defeat to the West the Indies.
In February, interim English cricket boss and former skipper Andrew Strauss spoke highly of Langer’s potential to take on the England role.
“I know him well and on the surface, he’s done a very good job with that Australian cricket team, so I wouldn’t rule him out (for the coaching job),” Strauss said.