Australian cricket legend Justin Langer has reportedly been ruled out of coaching the England men’s team.
According to the UK Telegraph, new ECB director of cricket Rob Key has ruled a line through Langer and has approached South African Gary Kirsten to become the new Test coach.
The ECB completely cleaned house following a disastrous trip to Australia where England lost the Ashes 4-0 to the Aussies, with Langer coaching the home side.
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Langer was subsequently pushed out of the coach role of his home nation, but has since put his hand up to take over the old enemy following the sacking of Chris Silverwood.
Key, though, had reservations about Langer’s hardline disciplinarian style of coaching and was worried he would not complement incoming captain Ben Stokes well.
Langer led Australia through a tough period following the infamous 2018 sandpaper scandal, but in recent months his coaching style wore thin on the Aussies and it eventually cost him his job.
According to the Telegraph report, Key believes Stokes is strict enough in his own right to not need a coach of a similar nature.
Stokes is expected to be named the new captain as early as this week, replacing Joe Root who stood down earlier this month in the wake of a disastrous form slump for the Test team.
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