Justin Langer is still at pain over Australia's Test series loss to India two seasons ago, country's first against an Asian opponent on home soil, but he also believes that period of distress could later prove to be the defining phase for him as Australia's head coach.
The former Test opener reflected upon his two-year-long journey handling the Aussie side so far, after taking over in the aftermath of the Cape Town ball-tampering incident in South Africa, and pointed out struggles of the 2018-19 summer as its lowest point.
Langer, as revealed in the Amazon Prime "The Test" documentary, was receiving some negative feedback on his methods in the dressing room, with his wife claiming that the man had actually stopped smiling.
"That was a massive wake-up call and a really tough time in my life," cricket.com.au quoted the 49-year-old as saying.
"I've got no doubt in 10 years’ time, I will look back on that period and it will be the making of my coaching career."
Langer, who has since overseen quite a successful period for Australia, with the national side reaching the World Cup semi-final and retaining the Ashes in UK, reckons the loss to India was the real turning point, similar to the one he experienced as a cricketer after being dropped at the start of the 2001 Ashes aged 31.
"In 2001 when I got dropped from the Australian team at 31 years of age I thought that was the end," he said. "That was the making of me as a cricketer and a person. It was amazing what lessons you can learn in adversity."
"In adversity, like in the great crisis we are going through right now (with the coronavirus)."
"Like the crisis of the Australian cricket team when they put sandpaper on the ball, in adversity never waste it," Langer added.
"Because great lessons come from them and if you grasp them you will be a better person."
(Inputs from cricket.com.au)
