Friday 9 December 2016 00:19, UK
Former Test opener Justin Langer will coach the Australia Twenty20 side in three matches against Sri Lanka in February, Cricket Australia have confirmed.
It is the second short-term coaching assignment in less than a year for the 105-Test player, following Langer's stint in a one-day international series win in the Caribbean in June.
Langer - who would appear to be the favourite to be the eventual successor to his former team-mate Darren Lehmann as Australia's next permanent coach - was a natural choice for the role, according to Cricket Australia team performance manager Pat Howard.
"He did a terrific job in the Caribbean in June when he stepped in for Darren Lehmann during the successful tri-series and so is already familiar with the working environment around the Australia team," he said.
"He brings a wealth of experience as both a player and a coach and his record in helping the Perth Scorchers to a sustained level of success in the Big Bash League means he fits the bill in all ways."
Local reports said Langer beat a strong list of contenders to the role, including fellow Test greats Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, who were all believed to be interested.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with the national side in the Caribbean earlier this year and so I am excited and very grateful to get this opportunity to do it again," Langer said.
"Twenty20 International cricket is the one format in which Australia is yet to win a global tournament so every chance we get to play it and develop our skills is very significant.
"That means these three matches will be hugely important."
Lehmann, who has no immediate plans to step aside from his current role, will be in India preparing for a four-Test series when the T20 matches will take place in Melbourne, Geelong, and Adelaide.
