Friday 43 Sports Friday, May 4, 2018 ‘Earn respect’ - Langer vows new culture as Aussie coach

Langer takes reins of Australia after scandal

SYDNEY: vowed to fix the scan- “They are great kids and it was such a surprise dal-hit Australian team’s behavior and they made the mistake they did. But they are win back respect after being named head coach great kids, we have all made mistakes, we can all in all three formats of the game yesterday. The get better at things. “If we can keep mentoring former Test opener, 47, starts his new role on and helping them and they want to meet the May 22 for a four-year term which takes in two standards of the Australian cricket team, then of Ashes series, a World Cup and a World course they’d be welcomed back.” tournament. He takes the reins at a time of crisis following the 12-month suspen- Succession plan sions of ex- and his deputy Langer comes into the job after dominating over a ball-tampering scandal domestic cricket in recent years as coach of which also saw previous coach and the Scorchers. CA quit. “The expectations are high in the Aus- chief executive James Sutherland said he was the tralian cricket team. We have got to make sure “clear standout” choice. “Whilst Darren the behaviors are good. If we do that, I think the Lehmann was not due to complete his term until outcomes will look after themselves,” Langer next year, we have had a succession plan in place told a media conference. for this role for some time,” Sutherland said. “I think one of the things that’s really impor- “The plan has allowed us to consider several tant is that we keep looking to earn respect. To worthy candidates, but Justin was the clear me, respect is worth more than all the gold in the standout, particularly based on his recent coach- world.” has ordered a review ing and player development achievements. “We of the damaged sport’s culture in the wake of the firmly believe Justin is the right person to lead scandal during the third Test against South this team and have huge confidence in what he Africa in Cape Town that tarnished Australian will bring to the role.” Langer had a highly dec- cricket’s reputation. “We all know what the ac- orated playing career, representing Australia in ceptable behaviours are. There is a difference 105 Test matches and eight ODI matches. He between competitiveness and aggression and scored more than 7,500 Test runs-including 23 COLOMBO: In this file photo, Australian cricket coach Justin Langer (right) walks with cap- we’ve got to be careful with that,” Langer said. centuries-and was an integral member of the tain George Bailey during an ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup practice session ahead of their semi- “We look to encourage great cricketers, but team during one of its most successful eras. final match against West Indies. The 47-year-old, Justin Langer, appointed national coach yesterday, also great people. So we if we can encourage His playing career spanned almost 20 years is a striking contrast to his laid-back predecessor Darren Lehmann, who resigned. — AFP great people and great Australians over the next and 360 first-class matches, scoring more than four years, I think that’s a really important foun- 28,000 first-class runs. As a coach, he had been dation for us.” Langer opened the door for a re- in charge of Western Australia and the Perth 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17. He also led the years from November 2009 and has twice been turn of Smith, Warner and , Scorchers since November 2012. Langer led the WA Warriors to one-day Cup titles twice, in head coach on an interim basis-in an ODI tri-se- who was also banned for the tampering incident. Scorchers to Big Bash League T20 champi- 2014-15 and 2017-18. Langer was involved in the ries in the Caribbean in 2016, and a home T20 “We’ll learn from what’s happened,” he said. onships three times, the most of any coach, in Australian team as an assistant coach for three series against Sri Lanka in 2017.—AFP

coming a duty for me because I’m now becom- Barshim ing an ambassador for the sport. “When I’m talking about sport, it’s not professional sport but sport as a lifestyle. You have to add sport thoughts. “That’s a huge motivation for me, that to your lifestyle, it’s each house, each family. figurehead in Froome was part of my decision-making process in de- “From that you never know what will hap- ciding to be here, in that I won the Tour last year pen.” Latest studies show that more than 70 and the Vuelta,” he said when asked about the Qatar’s battle of percent of the Qatari population are obese and motivated by cycling Grand Tour grand slam.”I can’t remem- a 2016 report by the Qatar Biobank medical re- ber the last time a rider won three Grand Tours search facility, based on 5,000 nationals, the bulge consecutively like that-it’s a huge point for me.” shockingly revealed that 83 percent of the pop- history bid His adverse analytical finding from a doping ulation enjoyed little or no physical exercise. test during the Vuelta last year hangs heavy on DOHA: Mutaz Barshim admits he has emerged Amid growing concerns over obesity, more his shoulders, though, with much of the talk as a trailblazer in Qatar’s battle of the bulge, en- than a million Qataris are even given a day off at Giro d’Italia leading up to the Giro centered on whether or couraging compatriots to incorporate exercise work each year to take part in a nationwide day JERUSALEM: Chris Froome is trying to put his not he should even be participating. The sport’s and healthy living as part of a worrying lifestyle of sport. world governing body, the UCI’s rules do not trend. The Gulf state, like many of its neighbors, tumultuous Giro d’Italia preparations behind him as he focuses on making history. Froome has preclude him from continuing to race as he is racked by increasing rates of obesity, vitamin ‘Moving forward’ won the last two Grand Tours-the Vuelta a Es- fights to clear his name and avoid a doping ban. D deficiency, cholesterol and diabetes, largely But Barshim, talking at a press conference in pana in September and the Tour de France be- But the UCI’s own president, David Lappartient linked to a lifestyle that includes little or no ex- a downtown Doha shopping mall where there fore that in July. Should he win the Giro this has said he should withdraw from professional ercise and a penchant for fast food. In world was no mistaking the wafts of roasting coffee month, he would become only the third man-and racing pending a solution to his case. Organiz- track and field, Barshim has established himself and cinnamon buns, argues that things were first in 35 years-to hold all three Grand Tour ti- ers, though, are delighted to have the sport’s as one of the real stars ahead of the 2019 world changing. “I’ve been participating in a lot of tles at the same time. The other two-Eddy Mer- biggest star lining up in a dream scenario, taking championships on home soil and the Summer programs with the Qatar Olympic Committee ckx and Bernard Hinault-are amongst the sport’s on last year’s champion Tom Dumoulin and Olympics in Tokyo a year later. (QOC), with health departments,” he said. The greats having both won the Tour de France a home hope Fabio Aru. But the world high jump champion, who was QOC’s motto is, tellingly, “Sport for life”, in full record five times. And even the potentially explosive decision named IAAF World Athlete of the Year last sea- knowledge that the eyes of the world will be on Four-time winner Froome, 32, would like to to start the race in Jerusalem, followed by two son after finishing his campaign undefeated, re- Qatar in the -up to it hosting not only next try to emulate them in July, should he be allowed stages around Israel, hasn’t dampened Froome’s alizes he has a greater responsibility off the year’s world athletics championships but also to race, but for now it is the Giro occupying his enthusiasm.—AFP track. “I’m a sportsperson,” he said. “But it’s be- the 2022 football World Cup. — AFP