Justin Langer appointed as new Australian cricket coach

SYDNEY, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Cricket Australia has announced the appointment of Justin Langer as the national team’s new head coach on Thursday.

During his career, the former opening batsman played 105 test matches for Australia, averaging 45.27 runs and scoring a total of 7,696 runs.

Recently, the 47-year-old has been plying his trade in first class cricket as coach of the Western Australian State side.

The left-hander has also been in charge of the Perth Scorchers in Australia’s domestic Big Bash League.

“Justin was the clear standout, particularly based on his recent coaching and player development achievements,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.

"We firmly believe Justin is the right person to lead this team and have huge confidence in what he will bring to the role,” Sutherland added.

Langer’s new position comes in the wake of the Australian cricket team’s cheating scandal in South Africa during March, when Cameron Bancroft was identified on camera scratching the surface of the ball with a foreign object.

The whirlwind of controversy that followed saw Bancroft suspended for nine months, while captain Steve Smith and vice captain David Warner received 12 month bans after they admitted to prior knowledge of the incident.

With the culture of team heavily scrutinised, former coach Darren Lehmann was also forced to stand down shortly after.

When local media asked Langer if he would leave the door open to Smith, Warner and Bancroft returning, he said “of course, they will be welcomed back."

"They've made mistakes, we have all made mistakes and we can all get better," he said.

"Has he [Warner] got areas to get better at in? Yes. Has Steve Smith? Has Cameron Bancroft? Has every single person in Australian cricket? Yes.”

Langer will officially begin his four year contract on May 22. Enditem