Langer vows to put smile back into Australian cricket

Australia coach Justin Langer vowed on Saturday to put a smile back into Australian cricket. Langer has promised to bring major positive changes in the team and said he hoped the first game at home would hopefully win back the fans   

After South African skipper Faf Du Plessis assured that his team will not taunt the host Australia over the ball-tampering incident and insisted his team won't dredge up the past, Australia coach Justin Langer vowed on Saturday to put a smile back into Australian cricket.

The Proteas have brought virtually their strongest team to Australia for the one-dayers in Perth for the first time since the Test series in South Africa this year boiled over with Australian players tried to alter the ball using sandpaper.

After this incident, while David Lehman quit as coach, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has since left and Chairman David Peever fell on his sword on Thursday.

However, Langer who replaced Lehmann, has promised to bring major positive changes in the team and said he hoped the first game at home would hopefully win back the fans.   

"It's sad, isn't it. Everyone seems to be at each other. There's lots of criticism," he said of the atmosphere surrounding Australian cricket.

 "What we can do is we can prepare well, we can play good cricket, and be entertaining and put on a good show so Australians can start smiling a bit.

 "One thing sport can do and the Australian cricket can do is put smiles on faces rather than everyone throwing stones at each other." 

Australia have lost 16 of their past 18 one-day internationals and are desperate to get off on the right foot in Perth, with two more one-dayers and a Twenty20 against the Proteas to follow.