New Aussie head coach Justin Langer reveals his ultimate goal

Cricket Australia (CA) appointed Justin Langer as the new head coach of the Australian cricket team on Thursday. He will succeed Darren Lehmann who resigned following the ball-tampering scandal which had shocked the cricketing a couple of months ago. The new coach is having a lot of challenges in front of him and for almost a year he will have to make do without the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner. However, Langer feels the main challenge for the team under his tenure would be to beat India in their own den.

Australia has generally struggled to make a mark in Asia especially in India since 2004 when last they had won a Test series in the country. Langer was a part of that legendary team but 14 years down the line, they are yet to triumph against the now World No. 1 side in the format. There are also a couple of Ashes series coupled with World T20 in 2020 and 50-over World Cup in 2019 as the new coach will have to start building the side across formats from now on.

The Mount Everest moment was 2004

Justin Langer was believed that the team had to improve on their overseas record which has been dismal in last few years. He also reflected on the challenges upfront but targetted a series victory in India on their next tour as his ultimate goal.

“We’ve got a World Cup, a T20 World Cup, a couple of Ashes (in 2019 and 2021-22) – I get nervous when I start thinking about it,” Langer told a media conference in Melbourne today. There are some big tournaments coming up. But ultimately, if I fast forward it, the Indian Test tour in about three or four years’ time, to me that’s the ultimate,” Langer said in the press conference in Melbourne after his appointment was made public. He also believed that Australia’s performance in India will determine if they are a great cricket team.

“We will judge ourselves on whether we’re a great cricket team if we beat India in India. I look back on my career, the Mount Everest moment was 2004 when we finally beat India in India. We’ve got to get better at playing overseas, we become a great team if we win overseas and at home so that will be something for us to aspire to,” the new Aussie coach added.

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