Justin Langer Reveals The Moment That Changed His Career As A Coach

Australia’s head coach Justin Langer maintained that the Test series loss against India at home was a career-defining moment for him in his coaching stint. Langer was appointed as the Aussie coach in May 2018, following the infamous Sandpapergate scandal that saw skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner slapped with 12-month ban each.

Although former head coach, Darren Lehmann was found not to have been directly involved, he announced he would step down from his role following the scandal. Well, it was one of the darkest phases in Australian cricket’s history, and Langer was appointed to restore the faith of people in the Australian cricket team.

After being appointed as the chief coach, Langer had the responsibility of building a team that could be world beaters and walk on the path their predecessors set for them. However, one of the initial challenges was to curtail India in the Test series at home.

The Australians failed miserably in doing so and faced a lot of flak for their poor show. India, on the other hand, went on to win its first-ever Test series in Australia and now Justin Langer has depicted as to how it became a career-defining moment for him.

Justin Langer Recalls Australia’s Test Series Loss To India In 2018

“That was a massive wake-up call and a really tough time in my life,” Langer was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press on a podcast. “I’ve got no doubt in 10 years’ time, I will look back on that period and it will be the making of my coaching career,” he added.

The 49-year-old compared it to another difficult phase of his life when he was dropped as a player at the start of 2001 Ashes.

“In 2001 when I got dropped from the Australian team at 31 years of age I thought that was the end. That was the making of me as a cricketer and a person. It was amazing what lessons you can learn in adversity,” he said.

Great Lessons In Life Come From Adversity: Justin Langer

The former opener believes difficult situations are opportunities to learn lessons of life and shouldn’t be squandered.

Langer said, “In adversity, like in the great crisis we are going through right now (with the coronavirus). Like the crisis of the Australian cricket team wheut sandpaper on the ball, in adversity never waste it.”

“Because great lessons come from them and if you grasp them you will be a better person,” the Australian coach concluded.

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