Cricket Australia open to splitting head coach role across formats

As the fall-out from Justin Langer's departure continues, new chair Lachlan Henderson says a fresh structure could be implemented in the near future

Australia could split the role of men's head coach as they embark on appointing a permanent successor to Justin Langer.

A single replacement will be appointed following Langer's resignation after nearly four years at the helm.

Andrew McDonald has been placed in temporary charge and will remain in place for the multi-format Pakistan tour, during which it is hoped a long-term candidate will be identified.

Brian McFadyen will act as a team manager for the tour after another change behind the scenes saw Gavin Dovey, who had held the role for 11 years, opted to stand down.

New chair Lachlan Henderson says a single head coach will be installed "in the near future".

However, when asked whether the role could be split he admitted due to the relentlessness of the schedule such a measure could be introduced.

“I’m open to advice on that,” he told ABC Radio.

“I think it is a very time-consuming role for one individual and maybe a more distributed method of coaching is the way of the future,”

“We are going for a single head coach to be installed in the near future. 

"How it plays out after that will depend a bit on that appointment, their availability and how that works across all forms of the game in what’s going to be a really busy 12 to 18 months.

^{Lachlan Henderson is the new Cricket Australia chair (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)}

“It may be that person is not available for every single tour around the world over the next 18 months."

Henderson, who was unveiled as Earl Eddings replacement last week, added: "It’s not going to be a long and drawn-out process and obviously we’ve got an interim coach already installed."

Former allrounder Shane Watson would support multiple coaches across the three formats.

I think it is going to have to be a necessity to break up the formats with their (Australia's) coaches," he told The ICC Review podcast.

"I think there is a good chance they will split the roles as I don’t think it is sustainable that everyone does every single format for a long period of time. 

“There is always going to be burnout and fatigue in a team environment, especially now with Covid and bubbles and similar situations that are around.

"The sooner that Cricket Australia break up the formats with the coaches I think everyone will benefit from it."