JUSTIN LANGER: Josh Inglis’ success with Australian cricket team has been a long time in coming

Iconic artist Andy Warhol once said: “The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.”

What a great way to describe an image. Pictures tell us so much about that split-second moment captured in time.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “a picture’s worth a thousand words”, and often when presenting, I will click this picture onto the screen and ask the audience why they may think it is my favourite image of my time in coaching.

Various answers are thrown my way, none of which are wrong, and all of which make perfect sense in the context of culture, teams, high performance and leadership.

Few nail the main reason why I love this photo, a moment depicting the seconds following the Australian men’s team triumphant T20 World Cup victory in Dubai back in 2021.

In the picture we see man of the match Mitch Marsh holding his gloved right arm in the air. Glenn Maxwell, his batting partner at the time, is hugging his teammates after hitting the winning run. The scene pure jubilation after Australia won their first ever T20 World Cup title.

Both men shared the accolades, ended up on the front and back pages of the papers, and were remembered — deservedly — as the stars of the show.

But what most people don’t see in this image are the other actors in the scene — Daniel Sams, Ashton Agar, Mitch Swepson, Nathan Ellis and Josh Inglis.

In my eyes as the coach, those five players are very special participants in this moment because not only were they the first players out to celebrate with their mates, but also, they were the first out there despite not having played a single game in the tournament.

Not a ball, and yet, their contribution to the team was still immense.

All of them are some of the best team players I have come across, and because of that they hold a special place in my heart.

To me, the sign of a great team and a strong culture, is where everybody in the group feels a special part of the success and where everyone happily celebrates other successes, regardless of the role they play in the team.

Of course, they hope that one day they may be the stars of the show — the lead actor — that is natural, but until that day comes, they are happy playing their role for the team, regardless of where they may fit into the puzzle.

Fast forward four years and this picture takes on further significance because one of those unsung heroes is now one of the most influential players in the game.

Inglis’s rise in Australian cricket represents one of the more unique pathways to international success

Not quite a household name yet, Josh Inglis is fast becoming an outstanding part of this evolving Australian cricket team.

His century in Australia’s victory over England in the Champions Trophy last week was breathtaking as he added another memorable performance to his growing list of international achievements.

And I couldn’t be happier for him.

A week or so after that World Cup final in 2021 — and during another stay in isolation in the Gold Coast (remember COVID?) — we were all rocked by the resignation of our Test captain Tim Paine.

With the World Cup in our hands, the next step was winning the Ashes here at home. Our plans were well advanced for this next challenge and the captain was a big part of that.

Amidst the chaos of Tim’s departure was the reality that we needed to replace, not only our leader, but also our wicketkeeper.

The two candidates were the incumbent Alex Carey, one of the world’s best blokes, and the new kid on the block Inglis who was with us, locked away in the Gold Coast.

What surprised me was the huge amount of support garnered for the youngster from within the ranks.

Although he was best known for his white-ball prowess, and was yet to debut in any Australian colours, his teammates were glowing for him.

Along with the emotion of the previous campaign and the impact he’d made as a team person, the popular vote at that present time would have seen Josh debut in that Ashes series.

That by no means denigrates Carey but, being out of sight out of mind, could have played against Australia’s current Test wicketkeeper had emotion and popularity been the only pre-requisites for a baggy green cap.

Inglis’s rise in Australian cricket represents one of the more unique pathways to international success, with his journey beginning far from Australian shores.

Born in Leeds, England, in 1995, he moved to Western Australia at the age of 14, a decision that would ultimately shape his cricketing destiny.

In my first meeting with him, I was taken by his strong English accent. And from day one I naively wondered how that would play out if he were to earn a West Australian or Australian cap. Seamlessly as it turns out.

The strong support from his parents Martin and Sarah, brother Joe and his partner Megan is evident and forms some of the foundation for his success.

The wicketkeeper-batsman’s initial breakthrough came in WA grade cricket where his clean glovework and aggressive batting style began turning heads.

His progression through the ranks was methodical, earning him a first-class debut for WA in 2017 where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising young wicketkeepers in the country.

Aussie Test great Geoff Marsh used to rave about him to me and it was wonderful to see his old fielding coach present his baggy green cap to him a few weeks ago in Sri Lanka. A magic moment.

Before we selected him for WA it was his quiet, determined style that grabbed me as a coach.

He had areas to improve on as all players do, but he would take on the challenges with little fanfare.

His true emergence as a national prospect came through his performances in the BBL for the Perth Scorchers. His ability to score quickly and innovatively — particularly his proficiency in playing 360 degrees around the ground — made him a standout in the tournament.

His versatility as a batter, while primarily a wicketkeeper, and his ability to bat anywhere in the order and adapt his game to different situations has made him an invaluable asset.

His technique honed in both English and Australian conditions, allows him to handle both pace and spin with remarkable efficiency.

Other attributes include his quick footwork — both behind the stumps and while batting, his ability to read the game situation, and his courage to take on bowling attacks when required are also reasons for his successes.

His keeping has shown remarkable improvement over the years, with his quick hands and sharp reflexes making him a reliable presence behind the stumps.

Overtaking Carey in this recent Champions Trophy is no mean feat, as Carey is simply a brilliant wicketkeeper who has grown at just as an impressive rate as Josh.

Wicketkeepers have it tough, as there is only one of them in every team.

They have to be the best of the best to earn the right to play, and must perform consistently to retain their position.

Often known as the drummer in the band, the elite contribution they make can be rarely noticed.

Charlie Watt, the gentleman drummer of the Rolling Stones was one of the best.

When Charlie passed away in 2021 I read great tribute that said: “The music world lost not just a legendary drummer, but also a reminder that sometimes the most profound impact comes from someone who never sought the spotlight but simply served the song.”

I see this in the legacy left by the great wicketkeepers in that they rarely seek the limelight but are happy to do their job to get the job done for the team.

Rod Marsh, Ian Healy, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Haddin, Paine, Alyssa Healy and Carey, serve as great team players, who are loved by their mates and just get the job done.

Inglis also fits this bill as well as any of them.

He has already captained Australia (few would know that), is a big-game performer, and is on the trajectory to becoming a consistent player in Australian’s three cricket team.

In the spotlight now, he deserves every success, because I remember him as the kid who was loved and respected as a great team man, before he even got a crack.

This is a great lesson for all aspiring athletes. Being a good player is one thing, being a good team man another. Being both gets you more opportunities than you may think.

If you grab them, the world is your oyster.