Hippies and brothers: Langer starts in style

Justin Langer made quite the impression in his opening press conference as the new head coach of the Australian men's cricket team while passionately outlining his plans and ambitions in the new role.

The full press conference is well worth your time, but if you can't spare the 20-plus minutes to take in the former opening batsman's enthusiasm for Australian cricket then we've outlined the best quotes below.

On aggressive cricket

"I was very fortunate, I was brought up under Bob Simpson and Allan Border. I still get nervous even saying their names, they were that tough and they demanded excellence on and off the cricket field and we played hard. I think the public will be disappointed if we don't play good, hard, competitive cricket. That said, we can also modify our behaviours."

On sledging

"The funny thing about sledging, I hear this probably October 3 every single year – I'm going to read the same headlines and I've laughed about this for 25 years. Every team that comes over and it's 'how are you going to combat the Australian sledging' and they go 'well we're not going to be scared of Australian sledging'."

On Australia's winning mentality

"It's in our Australian nature … we love to win, but we don't like to win by too much because we like to be the underdogs. I still remember it was a bit of a de-motivator in the great Australian team when we kept winning every game and they go 'yeah but it's getting a bit boring – we need some competition'."

On the banned trio

"Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith – besides Mike Hussey – love the game more than anyone I know. They are cricket tragics and they're great kids. That's why it was such a surprise they made the mistake they did. They've made a mistake. We've all made mistakes, we can all get better at things. Davey Warner is the same, he's a really good young bloke."

On mateship

"It was so competitive to get into the (Australian) team, but when you walk through the doors with the Baggy Green it was like a brotherhood, it was like a nightclub mate. It was awesome. We'd walk in and they are my brothers. I think about Matty Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath – they are literally like my brothers. That's what we've got to keep promoting in the Australian team."

On walking

"I got asked in a radio interview this morning, Adam Gilchrist – elite sportsman and walked when he got out. And I said 'yeah but I never walked when I got out'. 'You must be a cheat'. I said, 'no I just loved batting so much that I just didn't want to go out'. It was like when you were in the schoolyard, no-one liked getting out – you'd throw your bat and get all grumpy."

On his biggest challenge

"The Indian Test tour in about three of four years' time, to me that's the ultimate because we will judge ourselves on whether or not we're a great cricket team if we beat India in India. I look back on my career and the Mt Everest moment was 2004 when we finally beat India in India."

On his WA coaching introduction

"When I took over at WA, it was like a dysfunctional family. The ex-players hated the WACA, the WACA hated them back, club cricket hated them, WACA hated them back, media hated the WACA, the WACA hated them back – everyone was angry. I've got to bring a bit of love back!

On his public perception

"People see me as really tough and serious, that's my public persona, but I'm also a bit of a hippie. My daughter gave me a shave two days ago, because one month every year I like to grow a beard and not wear shoes."

On embracing 'different' people

"I like 'different' people. If you look at the Western Australian team, the ones I like the most are the ones who are a bit different. You've got to have some personality, you've got to have some competitive instinct, you have to be comfortable in your own skin. You can't be great at anything without being a bit different. And I am a bit different. It used to worry me when I was younger, but now I'm really comfortable in my own skin."