SerpApi.Org
Justin Langer is not currently under consideration for the role of England Test coach with Richard Dawson and Jonathan Trott emerging as leading English candidates.
Langer, the former Australia coach, was not among the candidates to be spoken to by England this week in the opening round of talks but the process will take a while to run.
It is understood interviews for the vacant role started on Tuesday with Langer not among the shortlisted candidates at this stage as England look to narrow down the list of potential replacements for Brendon McCullum.
Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain and close associate of McCullum’s, is an alternative if England look overseas and is available after leaving his Indian Premier League (IPL) job with Chennai Super Kings. Tom Moody is another potential overseas recruit.
England indicated they would like a coach in place in time for the first Test against Pakistan on August 19 but it is understood they are willing to make Marcus Trescothick the interim head coach if necessary. That could happen if their preferred candidate is not available immediately.
Langer emerged as a candidate last week once Andy Flower turned the job down over concerns about splitting it with his IPL duties. Langer also coaches in the IPL and has a Hundred gig.
Dawson would be able to take the role immediately, with Glamorgan willing to release him straight away while Trott is working as a freelance coach in a short-term role with Ireland.
Trott built his coaching reputation over the last four years with Afghanistan, steering them to the semi-final of the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup. He left that role in February and is understood to have held talks with England about the Test coaching job.
Dawson led Glamorgan to promotion last year after leaving his job with the England white-ball set-up when McCullum became head coach in all formats. Dawson remained involved with England through the Lions set-up, working under Andrew Flintoff last winter in Australia.
Had Flower taken the role, he would have been willing to have Dawson as his assistant and mentor him so that the Englishman would eventually be in a position to take over as head coach.
McCullum cites Fleming as one of his mentors and would be ideally placed to handle the relationship between the Test and white-ball coach that was one of Flower’s worries about taking the job.
But it may also be seen as a weakness to be close to McCullum as England look to shift away from his sphere of influence over the Test side.
There will inevitably be a battle for resources between the Test and white-ball coach with so much crossover between the two teams with a potential battle over captain Harry Brook.
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