'Isn't it about winning anymore?' - Michael Vaughan calls out Cricket Australia over silence on Justin Langer's coaching future

Former England batter and Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan is the newest to join the Justin Langer reappointment debate after a slew of Australian cricketers have already expressed themselves. Langer, incumbent Australia men’s team head coach, has his four-year contract ending mid-2022 following the conclusion of Australia’s tour of Pakistan.

While his position was under intense security in the aftermath of the national team’s pale performance on tours of West Indies and Bangladesh, and also due to dissatisfaction amongst the players due to his leadership style, the narrative has shifted quickly, with Australia having clinched their maiden glory in the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE before mauling arch-rivals England in the Ashes 4-0 at home.

In the recent backdrop, the renewal of Langer’s contract would only look like a formality. Cricket Australia (CA), however, have not showed any signs just yet that suggest Langer, who took the coaching mantle after the infamous 2018 Newlands ball-tampering episode, will carry forward with his role, while a split coaching model is supposedly in consideration too.

“If it’s true the Coach of Australia has to reapply for his position when he has taken them to No 1 Test team in the World & the T20 World Cup champs in the last few months… the landscape for success has hugely changed … Isn’t it about Winning??!!! #Langer” tweeted an apparently bemused Vaughan.

If it’s true the Coach of Australia has to reapply for his position when he has taken them to No 1 Test team in the World & the T20 World Cup champs in the last few months .. the landscape for success has hugely changed … Isn’t it about Winning ?? !!! #Langer

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 31, 2022

Vaughan, meanwhile, is not the first to think on those lines as a host of former Australia legends including Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne have all echoed similar sentiments.

“Position in doubt? Influenced the culture and character of the team after the Cape Town debacle,” former skipper Waugh had posted on Instagram. “Coached the team to a winning World Cup 20/20 and now to a commanding Ashes victory. Time to put the rumours and innuendo to rest. #respect #culture #character.”

“I don’t know what everyone’s waiting for,” Warne told Fox Cricket. “He should be signed up in my opinion because he’s done such a good job.

“We’re not inside the dressing room, so we don’t know all the inside-outs, but I think the only way we can judge a coach is from the performances and has Australian cricket got better? Is the better of cricket better domestically? Is there a group of players? There’s probably three or four players outside this squad now that could all play and that wasn’t there a couple of years ago,” he added.

Australia will next face Sri Lanka for five T20Is in February at home, a 16-member squad for which has already been named. The all-format Pakistan tour, Australia’s first to the country since 1998, will follow in March-April. Meanwhile, Langer has been granted leave ahead of the Pakistan tour, with Andrew McDonald set to serve as the acting coach.