Law in line to mentor batsmen

Stuart Law is expected to take over as Australia's batting coach for the remainder of the series against South Africa if Justin Langer is confirmed as Western Australia's new coach. Langer is likely to be put in charge of the Warriors after the end of the Brisbane Test, and Australia's management has already sounded out Law, an assistant coach at the Centre of Excellence, about filling the post for the Adelaide and Perth Tests.

Law was working with the Australians in the nets ahead of the Gabba Test and he could be the front-runner for the full-time role if Langer departs. Prior to joining the Centre of Excellence, Law served as the coach of Bangladesh and was Sri Lanka's interim coach after the 2011 World Cup, having first joined them as an assistant in 2009.

"I've had word from both Pat Howard [Cricket Australia's team performance manager], and the Australian team management that providing that Justin takes the West Australian job they would like me to be around the group for the summer for the preparation stages of each Test match," Law told the Sun-Herald.

"To be the national team batting coach would be a huge honour. I'm actually flattered that I'm even thought about in this position. I'm relatively new to coaching, I've been coaching international cricket for three years, but I've got a lot of knowledge. I've played a lot of cricket in all sorts of conditions against all sorts of opponents. There is no better environment than coaching around the likes of the Pontings, Clarkes and the Husseys and Warners of the world."

Although Langer has not officially taken the job as Western Australia's coach, he is expected join the Warriors after completing his national team duties in Brisbane. The state's mentor, Lachlan Stevens, quit last week, soon after the captain Marcus North also announced his resignation.