Published: Jun 11, 2016, 11:38 AM (IST)
Edited: Jun 11, 2016, 11:38 AM (IST)
Former Australian opener and stand-in coach, Justin Langer is losing sleep as he mulls Australia’s XI for their next match of the Tri-Nation series, to be played between South Africa and Australia, and thus stated selection as the hardest aspect of coaching. Langer and on-duty selector, Trevor Hohns, have a couple of tough calls to make ahead of Australia’s third match of the series against South Africa in St Kitts on Saturday. The difficulty for the team management is whether to drop either one of their two frontline spinners or play both as the Warner Park is not expected to help tweakers a lot. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs South Africa, Tri-Nations Series, Match 4 at Basseterre
According to CricketAustralia, fit-again spearhead Mitchell Starc is set to return after being rested from their shocking 47-run defeat in the hands of the Proteas. The world champions won their first match handsomely by 6 wickets against hosts, West Indies.
The top six is far from settled, with Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh both having started the series poorly with the bat. James Faulkner and George Bailey are both waiting in the wings, as is would-be debutant Travis Head.
“You’ve got to give them every opportunity but you also got to pick the best XI,” Langer said of Maxwell and Marsh. “Selection is the hardest part of coaching. You lose sleep at night about it because there are five guys (in the 16-man squad) who have to miss out as there is so much depth, said the former Test opener.
Langer suggested the current problem with Maxwell, Marsh and others have been of adapting to local conditions. “It’s been the theme. They are all very good players but they have to learn how to adapt. David Warner showed it in the first game, Aaron Finch and Nathan Lyon in the second. The great players adapt to different environments, different conditions, different opposition and different formats”, said Langer. Read – Predictions and Preview: Aussies will look to return to winning ways
The former cricketer made it clear he wouldn’t shy away from making tough calls. “That is what you get put into a position of responsibility for and that is what we are here to do”, replied the 45-year-old.
