Justin Langer Eyeing More Versatility Ahead of the 2019 World Cup

Australia Cricket team’s head coach, Justin Langer admitted they should identify and develop more multi-dimensional cricketer after their record-breaking loss to England at Trent Bridge.

Meanwhile, Australia lost the third ODI by a mammoth total of 242 runs, their heaviest loss in the ODIs. As a result, they also lost the series with two matches still to play.

The Aussies have won five World Cups including the last one in 2015. However, with the upcoming World Cup in England and Wales in less than a year time, they have slipped sixth on the ICC ODI rankings. Furthermore, they have lost 16 of their last 18 ODIs, which is alarming.

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“Batting or bowling, there are certainly areas for us that are becoming pretty obvious we need to identify and have more rounded players,” Langer said. “Not just players who can fit a specific role. Especially in 50-over cricket. In 20 over cricket you can get away with it a bit more as it’s so condensed but in 50 overs you have a lot more time in the game than you think,” he added.

Langer has experimented with the flexibility of his players in this series. Notably, Aaron Finch moved into the middle-order for the first time after 89 ODIs playing as an opener.

Before the series started, Finch batted at No.5 in a warm-up game and struck a fifty. However, he admitted on the eve of the Trent Bridge ODI he was still learning how to approach his new middle-order role.

Meanwhile, Andrew Tye, who has now played seven ODIs has struggled to get a foothold. Langer says he needs to excel adding the batsmen also should come good against the spin.

“He’s got to learn how to bowl in the first 10 overs, the middle overs and at the death where he excels,” said Langer. “It’s a bit like some of our batters, we’ve got to bat not just at the top of the order but you’ve got to come in against spin as well. They’re the areas we’ve got to develop and get better at,” he added.

Nathan Lyon and Alex Carey remain unused squad members on this tour. Michael Neser made his ODI debut at The Oval and Kane Richardson, Australia’s most experienced ODI bowler on this tour, played the first two games.

Changes are likely to happen in the lead-up to a World Cup, and Australia will ponder all options.

“I don’t like to chop and change too much, you’ve got to build something,” Langer said. “They’re not going to get experience sitting in the change room. Nathan Lyon has played a lot of international cricket and he might play at some point. We know how good a bowler he is. We might look at it,” he concluded.

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