Justin Langer takes rest from India-Australia ODI series; Andrew McDonald handed coaching duties

After having shellacked Pakistan [2-0] and New Zealand [3-0] with disdain during their home Test summer, the Aussie juggernaut will now head to India for a three-match One-day International series. The Australian cricket team has had a great turn around in the past 12 months since their 1-2 defeat at home against the Men in Blue. It all started with their 2019 tour of India where the Aaron Finch-led tourists shocked the home side when they won both the T20I [2-0] and ODI series [3-2].

Langer was really instrumental in scripting that turn-around. However, considering the hectic schedule of the past year and the upcoming season, Langer wouldn’t be travelling to India this time around, and Andrew McDonald is set to be the successor. The 38-year-old McDonald has seen rapid growth in his rise as the coach and the former cricketer is now tasked with one of the greatest challenges in World cricket: Beat India on their own turf.

This is the first time in three years that a caretaker coach will lead the Aussie side. It happened last in 2016 during a tri-series in the West Indies when Justin Langer spearheaded the outfit in the absence of Darren Lehmann, a precursor to him replacing Lehmann in the wake of the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.

Justin Langer has no intention to quit yet

“Of course. He’s the senior assistant coach of the Australian team. He’s got great credentials and he’ll keep growing. He’s got a really good opportunity. There are different things that happen along the way and one of those was getting the opportunity to coach in the West Indies from Boof … it was a big part of my apprenticeship,” Langer said to Fox Cricket.

“He’s an excellent coach, we’ve got other excellent coaches to back him up. I said to him this morning, ‘we’re not reinventing the wheel … I won’t ring him, I’ll let him go’. “He said “I might ring you’. He’ll do a really good job,” added Justin Langer.

Meanwhile, Australian white-ball captain Aaron Finch has been a vocal supporter of McDonald’s coaching expertise in the past. “He is such a great coach … as well-planned as a coach as I’ve ever seen. Thinks through every situation really well, doesn’t make emotional decisions. I’ve obviously known him a lot longer and dealt with him for a huge amount of time, so I’m a little bit biased.” Finch had said last year.

The Australian tour of India kickstarts from 14th January, with the first ODI set to take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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