Justin Langer named Australia head coach

Sydney: Justin Langer has been named the new head coach of the Australia cricket team, replacing Darren Lehmann, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.

will coach Australia in all three formats of the game Test, one-dayers and T20I and will begin his new role on 22 May in a four-year term, CA said.

The 12-month suspensions of former captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town in March, coupled with the resignation of Lehmann as coach, prompted the need for the radical leadership revamp in Australian cricket.

Langer's tenure will cover two Ashes series, a World Cup and World T20 tournament.

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said Langer was the "clear standout" choice.

Langer had a decorated playing career, representing Australia in 105 Test matches and eight ODI matches.

He scored more than 7,500 Test runs "including 23 centuries" and was an integral member of the Australian men's team during one of its most successful eras.

His playing career spanned almost 20 years, in which he played 360 first-class matches and scored more than 28,000 first-class runs.

As a coach, Langer has been head coach of Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers since November 2012.

Langer led the Scorchers to Big Bash League T20 championships three times, the most of any coach, in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17.

He also led the WA Warriors to One-Day Cup titles twice, in 2014-15 and 2017-18.