The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) announced on Friday that they have hired Justin Langer, a former Australian opener, as their new head coach. Langer will be taking over the position previously held by Andy Flower for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.
This development also raises questions about the future of team mentor Gautam Gambhir. Langer, who previously coached the Australian team, took charge following the infamous ball-tampering incident in 2018 during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.
1. Steve Smith
Steve Smith is expected to make a comeback to the Indian Premier League in 2024, having missed the 2023 season. Smith possesses a wealth of IPL experience and is known for his strategic abilities. Although KL Rahul has performed admirably as the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Langer may consider including Smith in the team to assist Rahul in leadership responsibilities. Smith’s inclusion would also bring stability to the top-order of the LSG batting lineup.
2. Andrew Tye
Andrew Tye has previously been a part of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) team, but he didn’t receive strong support from the team management. However, there is a possibility that Justin Langer, who had worked with Tye during their time at the Perth Scorchers in various BBL tournaments, could offer him another opportunity to showcase his skills at LSG in 2024. Given that Tye is known for taking wickets, Langer might consider acquiring him during the upcoming auction.
3. Pat Cummins
The Lucknow Super Giants have a fast bowler named Mark Wood, but he has missed several crucial matches in IPL 2022 and 2023 due to injuries or personal reasons. Justin Langer might consider replacing Wood with a player who is fully committed to the franchise. Pat Cummins could be an excellent choice as he had a close working relationship with Langer during Langer’s tenure as the Australian head coach. Besides his pace bowling skills, Cummins is also capable of hitting big shots in the lower middle order.
4. Travis Head
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) already have talented batsmen like Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis in their aggressive middle-order. Justin Langer may also think about including Australia’s Travis Head in the team. Langer had expressed admiration for Head when he scored a century against India in the ICC World Test Championship final in 2023. The new coach of LSG even drew comparisons between Head and renowned players like Adam Gilchrist and Rishabh Pant.
