Justin Langer has joked that taking an England Test coaching job could have led to a “divorce”, as he explained why he never went down that path.
He was speaking in a discussion session in Mackay on August 23, 2026, when journalist Tom Morris asked whether he had ever been approached to coach England. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was also there and responded with a smile.
A joke with a serious point
Langer said the time away from home would have strained not only his relationship with his wife and daughters but also with former teammates and close friends.
He also spoke about what it means to represent a country and stand for its national anthem, suggesting that coaching England would have demanded a level of commitment he was not prepared to give.
His answer underlined the heavy personal demands of international coaching, which can affect family life, friendships and identity.
Praise for Stephen Fleming
Langer also praised former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming following his appointment to a prominent coaching post. He believes Fleming’s calm manner and strong cricketing knowledge will serve him well under pressure, and he described the timing as ideal.
England v Pakistan
England are currently playing a three-Test series against Pakistan. They won the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs. The second Test begins at Lord’s on August 27, and the third is at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9.
