New Delhi: Justin Langer has been named as the new head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants.Andy Flower, the Super Giants' head coach since the team joined the IPL in 2022, was replaced by Langer.

After the two-year period, during which they twice placed in the top four, LSG decided not to extend Flower's contract.

"Lucknow Super Giants are on the journey of building a great story in the IPL," Langer said in a statement released by the franchise. "We all have a role to play in that journey and I am excited to be a part of the team moving forward."

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Langer has extensive experience coaching T20 cricket, having led Perth Scorchers to three Big Bash League championships, while never having held a coaching position in the IPL. In 2021, in the UAE, Australia won the T20 World Cup for the first time with him serving as their head coach. Early in 2022, he left his position as Australia's head coach after declining a short-term extension.

He previously collaborated with Super Giants director of cricket Gautam Gambhir while Gambhir was attempting to revive his international career in 2015. A chance encounter during the now-defunct Champions League T20 in 2014, when Gambhir was leading the Kolkata Knight Riders and Langer was leading the Scorchers, developed into a one-on-one mentoring relationship the following year. Gambhir then spent a fortnight in Perth honing his technical skills and mental endurance through gymnastics and mixed martial arts.

Here is what Lucknow Supergiants posted on twitter as a farewell for Andy Flower and welcoming Justin Langer as the new Head coach for the IPL:

Dear Andy,

Today it's farewell, but it'll never be goodbye because you'll always be one of our own. Thank you for everything! ???? pic.twitter.com/EGtaRvYiHj

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) July 14, 2023

JUST IN: LANGER! ???????? pic.twitter.com/UYu6XSfgIX

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) July 14, 2023

Can't wait for you to get started, JL! ???????? pic.twitter.com/mPBcPU7hyy

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) July 14, 2023

It was Gambhir who suggested Langer's name to the franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka, who, after a series of interactions with the Australian, was impressed with the recommendation. "I have enjoyed my interaction with JL. He seems to bring in a huge amount of aggression besides a lot of clarity. His name was suggested to me by Gautam. When I interacted with him, I was very impressed. I am very happy that he has become part of the LSG," the team owner told.

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After the spell, Langer said he was "impressed with Gambhir's desire" to work on his game at that point in his career. Gambhir had previously guided Knight Riders to two IPL championships and was an integral part of India's victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.

Flower, who collaborated closely with Gambhir, enjoyed success with the team that made the playoffs both of their seasons. Super Giants placed third in their inaugural IPL season in 2022, and in IPL 2023, they were eliminated in the Eliminator.

Currently serving as Australia's coach for the men's Ashes, Flower is one of the most seasoned coaches in the T20 circuit.

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