Australia Legend Backed to Take Over From McCullum as England Coach After Ashes
An Australian legend has been backed by England fans to replace Brendon McCullum following their Ashes defeat.
England failed to regain the Ashes after losing the third Test in Adelaide.
Australia secured an 82-run victory on the final day to secure an unassailable lead.
The tourists showed some resistance, but Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each to wrap up their latest victory in the Ashes series.
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Fans and critics alike have weighed in, including Ricky Ponting, who slammed an England batsman for his 'dopey' dismissal is a stinging on-air rant.
Justin Langer also made his feelings clear as he singled out Jamie Smith's wicket, which happened at a time when England were mounting an unlikely run chase.
"I'll tell you when I was nervous, when Jamie Smith hit those four consecutive boundaries. I thought, 'We all know the talent he’s got, we’ve seen it first-hand at London Spirit'," he said TNT Sports.
"But again, like England have done, you’ve got to have a hard edge, and they just haven’t had a hard edge. Four consecutive boundaries and then you play a shot like he did.
"If I were Jamie, I would have walked straight to my hotel because you’ve got to have a hard edge, and you only score runs in Test cricket if you have a hard edge.
"That Jamie Smith dismissal sums up a lot about how England have played this Test series."
Langer's assessment of Smith and England got fans online talking as they reckon the ex-Australia batter was pushing himself as a candidate to replace McCullum, who is under-fire after a disappointing Ashes series.
One X user wrote: "I’m getting the feeling Justin Langer is pushing himself for the coach of @englandcricket. I wouldn’t be against it. Needs some discipline and focus on technique when playing the likes of the Aussies and India."
A second said: "Justin Langer basically showing in this interview why England should employ him immediately."
A third added: "Would happily take Justin Langer as England’s head coach!"
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Langer, who played 105 Test matches for Australia during his legendary career, has experience of coaching in England, having taken charge of The Hundred side London Spirits in the summer.
Coaching England, however, would be a controversial move given his nationality and the fact that he's also coached Australia following his playing career.
McCullum, who was appointed in May 2022, has a contract with England until the end of 2027, which includes the 2027 home Ashes and ODI World Cup.
He famously introduced 'Bazball' - an aggressive and fearless brand of Test cricket, but following England's woeful Ashes series, his future has been clouded by uncertainty.
Nasir Jabbar