Mitchell Johnson: Well done, Adam Voges on a brilliant stint and Beau Casson is well placed to take over

Adam Voges never chased the spotlight.

He was a gun player in my eyes, methodical, and thoughtful about the game. As a coach, it’s been much the same.

Now, as his time leading Western Australia has come to an end, it’s worth stepping back and looking at what he’s achieved and why his tenure has been such a success.

Taking over from Justin Langer was never going to be easy. Langer had built a strong culture within WA cricket, one that demanded high standards, accountability and pride in representing the State.

When Voges stepped into the role, he inherited that framework. But inheriting something strong doesn’t automatically mean it continues. It still requires leadership, clarity and the ability to guide a group through the ups and downs of professional sport. Voges managed that transition impressively.

The relationship between Langer and Voges had always been a strong one. There was mutual respect there long before Voges ever considered coaching. That connection helped when the opportunity arrived.

Voges understood what had been built and why it worked. He was part of that as captain and helped build it from the inside by leading. It gave him a platform to step into the role with a clear understanding of the standards expected within the program.

At the same time, he was still relatively early in his coaching journey and probably didn’t expect the role to come so soon. But if you knew Voges as a player, you probably weren’t surprised by how quickly he settled in.

He has always been switched on. A thinker about the game with a strong cricket brain. I noticed that even back at under-19 level. Some players have a natural ability to read the game, understand situations and think a few steps ahead, while backing those around him to do their job. Voges has always been one of those people.

That ability has translated well into coaching. During his time in charge, Western Australia has enjoyed significant success. Sheffield Shield, one-day and Twenty20 titles returned to Perth, and the program continued to produce players capable of stepping into higher levels of cricket.

That consistency doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from creating an environment where players understand their roles and feel trusted to perform.

The path laid by Langer certainly influenced some core values of Voges’ coaching philosophy, but he also found his own way to lead.

Every coach eventually has to put their own stamp on a team. Voges did that through his communication style and his honesty. Players respect coaches who are clear and genuine in their approach. Voges has never been afraid to use his voice when needed, particularly when standards drop or motivation is required.

But he has also shown an understanding of the modern player. Today’s playing groups are different from those of previous eras. Communication matters more. Players want to understand why decisions are being made, not just be told what to do.

Voges has balanced that well maintaining authority while still engaging with players in a way that fits the current generation. That balance is harder than it sounds.

Of course, coaching success is rarely achieved alone. Beau Casson has been a significant part of that journey. Having played under-19 cricket with and against Beau, I can honestly say he was always a pleasure to be around.

He’s probably the kindest guy you’ll meet on a cricket field. Even if you tried to get under his skin, he’d respond with kindness and make you rethink what you were saying.

Being a nice bloke doesn’t automatically make you a good coach. But in Casson’s case, he brings much more than that. His strength has been his ability to work with players and challenge them to think about their game.

Rather than simply telling players what to do, he encourages questioning and accountability. He wants players to understand their decisions and take ownership of their performances.

Casson now steps into the head coach role, and while time will ultimately judge how successful he is, there’s reason to believe the transition will be smooth.