In the wake of Ben Stokes’ masterclass at the infamous Headingley Ashes Test in 2019, then-Australia coach Justin Langer cancelled players’ leave in an attempt to rebuild confidence in his team.
Chasing 359 to win the third Test, an unlikely partnership with No.11 Jack Leach left the Aussies in despair as Stokes’ unbeaten 135 propelled England to victory.
Langer has now revealed in a column for The Telegraph that the decision to stop players taking “a few days off” did not go down well.
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“That week between Headingley and retaining the Ashes at Old Trafford in 2019, was the best coaching week of my career,” he wrote.
“It wasn’t popular, leadership rarely is, but the learnings were invaluable.
“The reason it was unpopular with some, was that some of the players had promised to take a few days off and retreat from the pressures of the game with their families.
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“A late decision was made for us to travel together as an entire squad to prepare for the fourth Test. This didn’t go down perfectly, but with clear communication of why we thought it was important, the synergy of the group was strengthened, and everyone was on board.”
Langer said he endured several sleepless nights in the wake of the loss. He then sat the players down in a boardroom to re-watch the Stokes-Leach partnership.
“The objective from my point of view was to tackle the disappointment head-on, take lessons from the experience and then let it go and move forward,” said Langer.
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“Where other teams might have buckled under the pressure of such a humiliating defeat, we had to wrestle the demons or the Ashes would be lost.
“From the boardroom, the entire squad travelled together to Derbyshire for a practice game… the message was we must strengthen our resolve through doing, not talking.
“We could do this by winning the three day contest… the rewards were worth the effort.”
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Fast forward to 2023, and players are on a nine day break until the fourth Test begins at Old Trafford. Langer believes several Aussies would benefit from playing a match during the break.
He said Todd Murphy and Cameron Green, as well as struggling stars David Warner and Scott Boland would be “craving time in the middle” to “find some rhythm.”
“Looking at the Australian squad there are many players who would benefit greatly from playing cricket this week… I can’t help but think they could have done with a scheduled match this week,” Langer said.
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“The modern philosophy of best when fresh might work for a select few, but it is not a concept I believe in; particularly for young players.
“You don’t get better at anything, doing less of it. I am sure both teams will be weighing up how to best prepare. They will need to get it right for the final two Tests.”
The fourth Test starts at Old Trafford on July 19.
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