It’s easy to miss Justin Langer in a crowd. He’s slightly built, almost diminutive by Australian standards, and has an unassuming manner. Touring the Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California, Langer readily agreed to an interview the moment he was told the subject of discussion was Anil Kumble.
It’s also easy to surmise why Langer admires Kumble as much as he does. For starters, they share a few adjectives: intense, resolute, indefatigable. They’ve been labelled the rocks of their teams, but were never quite tagged superstars. They enjoyed sterling careers – in fact, Langer was the No. 1 Test batsman in 2004, the same year Kumble occupied top spot on the bowlers’ list – and were integral to their teams, but didn’t get as much limelight and as many cola ads.
What does he make of Kumble’s appointment as the coach of the Indian cricket team? “Anil has been an outstanding cricketer. He was a true warrior in every sense – a fierce competitor on the field and a wonderful person. He has been a phenomenal ambassador for India and world cricket. As coach of India, with Virat Kohli as captain, this is going to be scary for world cricket,” he says.
“Anil will make for a great coach. He was a champion bowler and such a skilful competitor,” says Langer. Remind him of the three sixes he hit off Kumble in a One-Day International in Sharjah in 1994, and Langer goes on, “He’s a master. I’ve had a few good battles with Anil during our playing days, both for our countries as well as in the County circuit.”
What does he make of Kohli? “He works so hard at his game. He is such a fighter and is constantly trying to improve. Together they are doing to form a great combination.”
Langer said he was unaware of the Ravi Shastri-Sourav Ganguly controversy over the coach selection, but clear that Kumble remains a great choice. He didn’t offer much insight on the foreign-versus-local debate over the coach. Like a good opener, he let it go by, stating Kumble was the perfect fit.
Langer has just wrapped up a successful month-long Caribbean tour as coach of Australia, filling in temporarily for former teammate Darren Lehmann, who is on a break. What’s next? “I’m heading back to my regular job, coaching Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers, the city’s T20 team that features in the Big Bash, Australia’s domestic league.”
Last year, Langer spent time with Gautam Gambhir for a week in Perth, helping the fellow opener with his technique and fitness. “Gautam is such an intense player and a gritty batsman. It was great working with him.”
What’s his advice for the West Indies-bound Indian team? “India have a very strong unit, but the West Indies team are like boxers who can hook and punch you hard. They are a really dangerous team.”
The pitches, he says, will be slow. “Sunil Narine was very effective in the tri-series, but their pace bowlers are terrific. Darren Bravo is very talented and could get going quickly.” India are playing only Tests in the West Indies and Narine is unlikely to feature in the squad.
Does India’s two-captain approach make sense to him? Should MS Dhoni call time on his career? “Look, MS is a world-class player and he has earned the right to decide when to go. I’d say he is still good enough to be in any Indian team.” But can Indian selectors be as ruthless as their Australian counterparts, who are comfortable making hard decisions? “Well, in Australia the selectors have the luxury of a lot of talent coming through the ranks. We pride ourselves on rewarding performance.”
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