Langer can be new Oz batting coach

Melbourne, Nov 15 (ANI): Former Test opener Justin Langer is poised to step into the coaching ranks with Australian Test team.

Langer could become batting coach and personal development and leadership advisor to Ricky Ponting's team as early as this week.

National team coach Tim Nielsen approached Langer to take on the position, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Langer confirmed that a move into coaching is an option as he weighs up his immediate future just three weeks after his retirement from all forms of the game.

"There's been a lot of talk about me coaching and that is an option. Hopefully there will be a lot of mentoring with young players on their way to making it to the top in a variety of sports," Langer said.

"Over the next 12 months, or next period of my life, I've got to work out whether my passion is going to be coaching, in writing more books or commentating and my public speaking and consultancy projects that I'm setting up," he added.

Langer played the last of his 105 Tests two summers ago. He is also Australia's highest first-class run scorer, with 28,382 runs from 360 games.

He would not confirm whether he is heading to a full-time position with the Australian team. But he said the prospect of working closely with some of Australia's most promising young batsmen was appealing. (ANI)