Melbourne: Australian head coach Darren Lehmann believes former Test cricketer Justin Langer is the right person to succeed him, considering the success he has already achieved in Western Australia.
Lehmann, whose contract as Australian head coach was extended recently till mid-2017, knows that he won't be able to continue in this role forever given the demands that come with the position.
"I believe he'll be the next coach of Australia," Lehmann told Australia's Fairfax Radio.
"He's done a fantastic job and he should be very proud of what he's achieved in WA. He's always ringing and asking questions and we're always throwing things at him as well and asking him for different ideas."
Langer, who worked with the Australian team as a batting coach and mentor in 2009 under Tim Nielson, has achieved a lot of success as coach of Western Australia and Perth Scorchers since 2012.
Under him, Perth Scorchers won back-to-back titles in the Big Bash T20 League, Western Warriors clinched the Matador Cup and reached the finals of last season's Sheffield Shield.
"It's a really united feeling in the Australian setup now where the state coaches are a very important part of what we're trying to do," Lehmann said.
"And a guy who's played over 100 test matches - you'd be mad not to take his advice. From our point of view, we respect him very highly.
"One thing I do know about this job is that you can't do it for a long period of time because you're away 270-300 days a year. It is the best job in the world and, one day, I'm sure JL will make a very good Australian coach.
