ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Australia's Preparation For The T20 World Cup Wasn't Aided By "Chopping And Changing" - Justin Langer

Former Australian coach Justin Langer thinks the “chopping and changing” in the team prior to the ICC T20 World Cup at home was not the best course of action and may have had a significant impact on Aaron Finch’s team’s early elimination. 

The biggest blow to Australia, the defending champions, was when rivals from across the Tasman Sea destroyed them by 89 runs in their opening group match on October 22. Australia was unable to advance past the Super 12 stage. 

Australia Was Chopping And Changing A Bit: Justin Langer

“Leading in, Australia were chopping and changing a bit, giving people the opportunities, not necessarily the right way to go about it but that’s just the way it worked out and giving some guys some rest,” According to Justin Langer, who led Australia for almost four years before leaving after the team won the 4-0 Ashes victory at home and the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. 

Despite having two noteworthy accomplishments to point to, Langer lost the trust of his players due to his claimed micromanagement of the team and the older players’ stated dissatisfaction with his coaching approach. The great cricketer declined a six-month contract extension until the T20 World Cup for the former Australia opener. 

Andrew McDonald, Langer’s assistant coach, took over the reins and has subsequently presided over both the disastrous T20 World Cup performance at home and a historic Test victory in Australia. 

In A World Cup Everything Has To Go Right And Everything Didn’t Go Right For Australia: Justin Langer

According to Justin Langer, a number of things must go well for a team to gel during a global competition. 

“Yeah, a lot has to go right,” said Langer to SEN WA Breakfast. “I said before this series started, like winning an AFL Grand Final or NRL Grand Final, in a World Cup everything has to go right and everything didn’t go right for Australia, unfortunately. They’ll (team) be disappointed. 

“There was a lot of discussion about the lead-up and from afar it looked like it should have been the perfect lead-up coming into the summer, lots of T20 cricket and get on a roll.

“There was a bit of chopping and changing coming into the series, but they’ll be disappointed, no doubt about that. They’ll have to brush themselves off and get ready for the next one.” 

Huge Opportunity For Cameron Green And Mitchell Marsh: Justin Langer

Young players like Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh, in Langer’s opinion, have a great opportunity to stand up and be counted. 

“How I see it now is it’s another huge opportunity for Cameron Green and another huge opportunity for Mitch Marsh, the all-rounders,” Justin Langer stated.

“They’re both destructive players, Glenn (Maxwell) isn’t there (due to a broken leg), they’ll have to step up in the field (too). He (Maxwell) is their best fieldsman, he brings energy to the group, he brings that off-spin option too. Australians have got a bit to think about, it’s a huge opportunity for those other guys (in the upcoming series against England at home).” 

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