Tuesday 29 December 2015 12:53, UK
Justin Langer will coach Australia’s one-day team in the tour of the West Indies next summer while Darren Lehmann takes an extended break.
The former opening batsman will have his first spell in charge of the national team for a triangular series which will also feature South Africa.
Lehmann, who will return as coach for the tour of Sri Lanka, will spend his sabbatical at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane looking at upcoming players.
Australia's general manager Pat Howard said Langer deserves a chance after impressing as coach of Western Australia.
"Given the amount of cricket coming up on the international calendar, we've tried to find some time for Darren to plan and focus on the next period for the Australian side," Howard said.
"Justin Langer has done an outstanding job, taking his teams to the finals of our three domestic competitions last year, and winning two of them.
"He's also done a very good job preparing WA players to represent Australia.
"This appointment to cover the limited-overs series in the Caribbean is a great reward for that excellent work."
Since taking over the Western Australia job in 2012, Langer has guided them to silverware in the 50-over and T20 competitions. He also coaches Perth Scorchers in the T20 Big Bash competition.
Lehmann, who has a contract until 2017, admitted he should have taken a break last summer after the Ashes defeat against England.
"Looking back now, the end of the Ashes campaign and the one day series I was pretty much cooked," he said.
"You can't go that long in a run as such.
"Summer's easy at home, it's fantastic at home all the time, but when you're on tour that was four and a half months in the end.
"You've got to make sure you're fresh as best you can, whatever coach it is. We're always trying to give our coaches or support staff a break."
