[VIDEO] Justin Langer named as Australia new Head Coach, replacing Darren Lehmann

[Abdullah719]

Cricket Australia (CA) has today announced Justin Langer as the new Bupa Support Team Head Coach of the Australian Men’s Cricket Team.

Langer will coach Australia in all three formats of the game and will commence in the role on 22 May, for a four-year term taking in two Ashes Series, a World Cup and World T20 tournament.

The 47-year-old enjoyed a decorated playing career, representing Australia in 105 Test matches and eight ODI matches.

In Test cricket, he scored more than 7,500 runs – including 23 centuries – and was an integral member of the Australian men’s team during one of the most successful eras of all time.

His playing career spanned almost 20 years, in which he played 360 first-class matches and scored more than 28,000 first class runs.

As a coach, Langer has been Head Coach of Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers since November 2012.

He has led the Scorchers to KFC Big Bash League championships on three occasions, the most of any coach, in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17, and the Warriors to JLT One-Day Cup titles twice, in 2014-15 and 2017-18.

Langer has also been involved in the Australian men’s team set-up on multiple occasions. He was an assistant coach for three years from November 2009, before taking up head coaching roles with Western Australia and Perth Scorchers.

He has also twice been Australia’s head coach on an interim basis, in an ODI Tri-Series in the Caribbean in 2016, and in a T20 International Series on home soil against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Cricket Australia CEO, James Sutherland, said:

“We are thrilled to appoint Justin as Bupa Support Team Head Coach of the Australian Men’s Cricket Team,” Mr Sutherland said.

“Whilst Darren Lehmann was not due to complete his term until next year, we have had a succession plan in place for this role for some time.

“In addition to professional development opportunities, this plan has included several coaches stepping into the head role to relieve Darren at times, and to also provide support roles, including Justin, and forms part of our long running succession planning process.

“The plan has allowed us to consider several worthy candidates, but Justin was the clear standout, particularly based on his recent coaching and player development achievements.

“We firmly believe Justin is the right person to lead this team and have huge confidence in what he will bring to the role.

“As an international cricketer, Justin was a proud and courageous competitor who gave his all for his country. As a coach he has enjoyed success – not only in overseeing strong teams, but also in developing cricketers who are ready to play international cricket for Australia.

“To illustrate this, Western Australia has more nationally-contracted male players than any other state for 2018-19.

“Justin’s work ethic, leadership and values are among his strongest attributes – and he is widely respected across the global cricket community," concluded Mr Sutherland.

Langer will also play a role on the Rick McCosker player review panel, as announced earlier in the week.

Speaking on his appointment, new Bupa Support Australian Men’s Head Coach, Justin Langer, said:

“It is humbling to be appointed as coach of the Australian Men’s Cricket Team.

“I would like to thank the Western Australian Cricket Association and the Perth Scorchers for their support over the past six seasons, and for giving me the opportunity to lead and work with two great teams and many exceptional people.

“I’d like to especially thank my family for being with me on this journey and for supporting me in accepting this position.

“I am very excited about the scope I now have to coach the country that supported me so much in my cricketing career.

“There will be some significant challenges ahead for our group, but there is a wealth of talent in Australian cricket that I know will do us all proud.

“I’m thoroughly looking forward to working with all players, as we strive for a successful men’s team across all formats, with the support and respect of the Australian public,” concluded Langer.


Justin Langer – background

Played 105 Tests and eight ODIs for Australia
Scored 7,696 Test runs, at an average of 45.27 – including 23 centuries
Made Test debut in 1993, and played final Test in 2007
Scored more than 28,000 first-class runs including 86 centuries, at an average of 50.23
Appointed as Australian assistant coach in November 2009
Joined Western Australia and Perth Scorchers as head coach in November 2012
Coached Australia to an ODI Tri-Series victory in the Caribbean in 2016, against South Africa and the Windies
Coached Australia in a T20 International Series against Sri Lanka in 2017
Coached the Perth Scorchers to three KFC Big Bash League titles - 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17
Coached Western Australia to two JLT One-Day Cup titles - 2014-15 and 2017-18

 

[Arham_PakFan]

As was expected.

 

[rhony]

What is this "Bupa support"

 

[DeadBall]

What is this "Bupa support"

Sponsors.

 

[rhony]

Sponsors.

WOW. I guess they are sponsors of the team but it seems like they are sponsoring the coach.

Bupa Support Team Head Coach of the Australian Men’s Cricket Team.

 

[shaz619]

Congrats to him, am sure he will do well

 

[DeadBall]

WOW. I guess they are sponsors of the team but it seems like they are sponsoring the coach.

Bupa Support Team Head Coach of the Australian Men’s Cricket Team.

I know, I thought it weird too. What's next. Aquafina Water Carrier? 3M Ball Tamperer?

 

[The_Odd_One]

Good choice. He was a cool customer back in the day.

 

[SL_Fan]

Good luck to JL going to need it. Wonder if Ponting threw his hat in the ring. Would make one heck of a coach for mine. Maybe few years down the track.

 

[giri26]

Good luck to JL. He has a huge task on his hands though. This is not going to be easy. The Australian test team has Shaun Marsh who is in his last legs, Usman Khawaja who is inconsistent and then a bunch of inexperienced batters.

 

[Junaids]

Langer was the anointed heir long before the ball-tampering episode because like Lehmann he plays hard and pushes the boundaries of decency.

The fact that Cricket Australia has ploughed on and appointed him tells you that its true attitude towards the tampering episode is best demonstrated by the cover-up of what “leadership group” was involved, rather than the Fake Disgust it started to exhibit to pander to public opinion.

So a coach who has never won a First Class tournament is the new Test coach ahead of Jason Gillespie, who has won two County Championships.

 

[Chrish]

Not a great choice. Langer comes out as bit of a tool in interviews. Don't think that's what his team needs ATM.

 

[Ab Fan]

Hopefully he will come good. Will need a big deal of effort to win the WC in 2019 with a new Australian captain.

 

[Hasan123]

Good appointment. Good luck to him.

 

[Justcrazy]

Not surprised , he was next in line.

 

[Sir-fraz]

Cricket Australia announces Andrew McDonald as Australian Men's Team Senior Assistant CoachCricket Australia has today announced Andrew McDonald as the Australian Men’s Team’s new Senior Assistant Coach.

McDonald, 38, played four Tests, 95 first class matches, 100 List A games and 93 Twenty20 fixtures in a playing career which spanned 15 years.

Upon retirement from playing, McDonald turned his focus to coaching and guided Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades to all three Australian domestic titles last season. He has nurtured the development of a number of current Australian players and has also coached in the UK and India.

Ben Oliver, CA’s Executive General Manager of National Teams, said McDonald brought with him a wealth of cricketing experience to the role.

“We are excited to have Andrew join the Australian Men’s Team,” Oliver said. “As a player, Andrew was an outstanding all-rounder, tactician and competitor and a popular teammate. And as a coach, he has demonstrated great leadership and enjoyed remarkable success in all formats.

“We are confident our playing group will grow under Andrew’s mentorship. We are also proud that our world-class domestic system is providing a pathway to international coaching ranks.

“We were fortunate to have a strong list of candidates to choose from and I would personally like to thank all those who applied for the position of Senior Assistant Coach along with Cricket Victoria for their support of Andrew.”

Justin Langer, the Australian Men’s Team’s Head Coach, said: “Andrew complements our coaching panel perfectly. I have no doubt his all-round knowledge and man management skills will be a positive addition to our team.

“The coaching success Andrew has enjoyed around the world in a relatively short period of time is testament to his skill, dedication and knowledge of the game.

"He is also a wonderful competitor, which Australian fans saw first hand throughout his career with the national team, Victoria and South Australia, as well as the Renegades, Strikers and Thunder.”

Cricket Victoria CEO Andrew Ingleton thanked McDonald and congratulated him on the appointment.

“Naturally we’re sad to see Andrew leave after completing such a great year for Victorian cricket but we understand his desire to challenge himself at the highest level and have no doubt he will be a significant asset to the national coaching unit,” Ingleton said.

“It’s testament to Andrew’s achievements with our teams that he has been given this opportunity.”

Shaun Graf, Cricket Victoria’s General Manager, said McDonald had built strong foundations for the group.

“Andrew has overseen a fantastic culture within the Victorian playing group, and to see players like Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, James Pattinson and others develop into national players is a credit to the work he has put in with them at domestic level.

“On behalf of Cricket Victoria, I wish him well on the next phase of his coaching career.”

McDonald’s start date with Cricket Australia will be advised in due course.

 

[MenInG]

Andrew McDonald will be free to start as Australia’s assistant coach for the first Test against Pakistan starting on November 21 with Victoria confirming he will be replaced as their coach next week.

Cricket Victoria announced on Wednesday assistant Lachlan Stevens would take over the men’s team from next Tuesday’s Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.

It means McDonald can in turn leave and begin as Justin Langer’s national assistant following confirmation of his appointment last week without a start date.

Stevens has been an assistant at Victoria since 2015-16 and was previously Western Australia and Perth Scorchers head coach.

The former South Australian and Queensland batsman will start in an interim role at Victoria, while there is no replacement yet for McDonald as the Melbourne Renegades’ head coach.

“It’s a great chance to work in a different role for the rest of the season,” Stevens said.

“We have a very talented group of players and as coaches and support staff our job is to get the best out of them individually and as a team.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...t/news-story/aa6107626725f5028fdd304f4c07e9e5

 

[MenInG]

The absence of travelling selectors and the use of remote coaching for players has been flagged as part of cost-saving measures for the Australian men's cricket team, with head coach Justin Langer ready to lead a smaller group of support staff on future overseas tours.

But the days of high-profile mentor roles for the likes of Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh may not be over yet, with Langer seeking "creative" ways to keep legends of the game involved for major series.

On Wednesday, Langer said goodbye to long-time batting coach Graeme Hick from his coaching staff, one of 40 redundancies across Cricket Australia as part of the organisation's cost-cutting response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Langer praised the work of Hick as well as recently departed CEO Kevin Roberts, labelling Wednesday "a really tough day".

He added that cuts to second XI and Australia A matches in the short-term provides an opportunity for Premier (club) cricket and state competitions to play more of a leading role in developing the next generation of players.

The national men's team has traditionally had a selector on duty for overseas tours, but Langer flagged that might not happen for all campaigns in the short term as the organisation looks to reduce expenditure.

"If you'd have asked me 12 weeks or 10 weeks ago, I'd have thought it's nice to have a selector around (on tour)," said Langer, who is part of a three-man national selection panel along with Trevor Hohns and George Bailey.

"For the players, it's nice to see some other selectors around at times.

"But look the way that these technology platforms (have helped) ... I’m sure there's going to be scope for using a lot more of this technology to make these decisions, to talk to the captain, to talk to the senior players and that’ll be a part of it.

"I think there'll be more in-depth conversations to work through actually how this is going to work. So, we're aware of it now and now it's (time) to do our job, to get creative and work out how it's best going to work for the organisation and for the team."

Langer has explained previously how the wide-ranging responsibilities of a head coach has meant coaching his players only took up around 30 per cent of his time, leaving him to put his faith in his support staff to fill the void.

But with cost-cutting set to lead to a smaller group of assistants by his side, the former Test opener is ready to get back on the tools, adding he's confident his players will be able to adapt to the staff changes.

"No one could ever criticise me for not wanting to roll my sleeves up and do some work," he said.

"We will certainly have less staff on the road with us, but the guys will still get great support. Whether it's remotely; as we’ve seen over this COVID period, there's a lot of support that can be given and serviced remotely.

"We'll all survive. We'll be a bit leaner and sharper, that's for sure, but we'll survive, we'll adapt, and the players will still get the service required."

A feature of Langer's time as coach has been his recruitment of former teammates, some of the greats of the modern game, as mentors for high-profile tours.

Former Test skippers Ponting and Waugh joined Langer's staff for the World Cup and Ashes campaigns respectively last year, while Mike Hussey has also worked with the T20 side.

Langer remains passionate about surrounding current players with past greats and hopes to continue to do so, despite the cost cutting.

"How we make that happen in the future, we'll do our best to make it happen because it's very, very important," he said.

"The more good people that we can have around the team, the better. We're just going to have to be more creative and we're going to have to work through solutions for how we can make that happen."

Hick was the most high-profile CA employee to lose his job on Wednesday, the Zimbabwe-born coach having been with the organisation since 2013.

Langer said telling Hick of his redundancy on Wednesday "was like facing Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh without a helmet and a box on", such is his admiration for the former England batsman.

"He's a ripping human being, there's no doubt about that," Langer said.

"You won't meet a person of greater integrity than Graeme Hick. His worth ethic is unbelievable, his knowledge of the game is unbelievable, so it was a really tough call.

"It's nothing that he's done, it's more of an impact of the cost cutting that we're doing because of the COVID situation.

"So it was really hard, as it was to see Kevin Roberts go the other day. You build relationships with these guys and the human side of it kicked in yesterday. Not just with Hicky and Kev but the other cuts that happened.

"It was a really tough day."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/jus...augh-mentor-ricky-ponting-covid-19/2020-06-18

 

[Hasan123]

Langer is a world class coach. Says some weird things at times but he's a world class coach imo.

 

[Mamoon]

Langer, Kirsten and A. Flower are the three best coaches in the world (in no particular order).

 

[King_Kohli]

Justin Langer involved in heated exchange with staff member over video of Bangladesh team's celebrations

Australia head coach Justin Langer was reportedly involved in a heated exchange with a staff member over a video of the Bangladesh team's celebration posted on Cricket Australia's website.

Australian cricket team's head coach Justin Langer has not enjoyed the best of time with the national side as the Matthew Wade-led side recently slumped to a disappointing 4-1 defeat in the five-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Langer was reportedly involved in a heated argument with one of the staff members of the Australian team over a video of the Bangladesh team's celebration posted on Cricket Australia's website - cricket.com.au.

Langer was certainly not pleased with the video being shared on the Australian website where the Bangladesh players were seen singing and celebrating after registering a historic series win over the Aussies. With the 4-1 win in the T20I series, Bangladesh recorded their first-ever series win against Australia across formats.

As per a report in The Age, the Australian cricket team's manager, Gavin Dovey, and Langer both didn't like the video being shared on the Australian website. It was Dovey, who first raised the issue with the staff manager and argued that it was not right for the website to feature a Bangladesh song. However, the staff member reportedly refused to take down the video and Langer had to intervene.

Dovey told Langer about the incident and the Australian coach then got involved in a heated argument with the staff member. Dovey later confirmed that there was a disagreement on a particular matter within the Australian setup and that the instance should have been dealt with in private.

“A healthy team environment includes the ability to have honest and frank discussions, whether it be between players, support staff, or others within the team environment, which was the case here. There was a difference of opinion and we agreed to disagree on a particular matter. In hindsight, it was one of those instances which should have taken place in private. I take full ownership of that," Dovey was quoted as saying by The Age.

Australia were bundled out for a paltry total of 62 runs in the final fifth T20I against Bangladesh on Monday, recording their lowest ever total in the history of T20Is. The Aussies succumb to a humiliating 60-run defeat in the game, failing to chase a low-key target of 123 runs to continue their woeful run in the series and lose 4-1.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/article/justin-langer-involved-in-heated-exchange-with-staff-member-over-video-of-bangladesh-teams-celebrations/797985

 

[Officer Barbrady]

For a while it has felt like time for Langer to go but Aussies these days aren’t as ruthless as they used to be.

Still remember when World Cup winning captain Steve Waugh was dropped in 2002 after one half decent series! Turned out to be a mighty fine decision too

 

[Rafa]

A pathetic coach who is taking Australia to new lows.

 

[sweep_shot]

I feel Australia have regressed under Langer.

Things were better under Lehmann.

 

[MenInG]

Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s CEO, said:

“Justin (Langer) has done an incredible job in raising the culture, values and behaviours of the Australian men’s team since he took on the role in 2018. His efforts have restored public faith in the national team which is a side all Australian’s can be incredibly proud of.

“He is contracted as Head Coach through to the middle of next year with the focus now on a successful T20 World Cup campaign followed by the home Ashes defence in what is one of the most anticipated Series and summers of cricket in Australia for many years.

“Like many in the community and around the world the team has had an extremely disruptive and challenging 18 months during the pandemic. Despite those challenges the side has had great success in One-Day, Test and T20 cricket, when all players were available.

“Justin, his coaching staff and the leaders within the team have an equally important part to play in ensuring a successful summer ahead for the Australian cricket team.”

 

[OMB]

Grumpy Coach: How Langer’s volatile approach is wearing Australia down

There are few people I admire more in Australian cricket than Justin Langer, both as a player and statesman, but I struggled to work with him as national coach.

I filled in as Cricket Australia’s men’s team media manager in 2019 during part of the World Cup and Ashes in England then the Twenty20 series in Australia during a six-year stint in a joint Cricket Australia-Cricket NSW role as a senior communications manager.

I later found Langer had been dealing with health issues related to his inner ear, but I quickly learnt to stay out of his way. You were never certain whether your question was going to be met with an answer or an explosion.

An early inquiry to support staff about how best to handle the situation had a simple answer: “It’s our job to de-stress the coach.”

Even a simple post on the player and support staff group chat letting them know of a particular issue that had been brought up in the media could elicit a rebuke.

I consulted support staff and communicated with Langer through short WhatsApp messages where possible. Anything to avoid direct conversations.

Some players didn’t like walking past Langer’s seat on the team bus lest they prompted a negative response. If things weren’t going well, the odd player would ask,“How’s the grumpy coach?”

Most baffling was Langer’s sudden obsession with things that, to me, didn’t seem to matter. Two days out from the beginning of the 2019-20 international summer, heading into a long-forgotten Twenty20 series against a modest Sri Lankan side, Langer decided that, despite an $800 million television deal with Fox, players would no longer be allowed to be miked up on the field.

Apparently, Glenn Maxwell had once dropped a simple catch because, Langer thought, he had been distracted by a conversation with TV commentators.

It became an issue at the team meeting leading into the series. When I pointed out that players had been miked up throughout his multiple title-winning seasons as coach of the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash, he replied: “I don’t give a rats about domestic cricket.”

In desperation, I asked the players who didn’t want to wear a microphone. Most put their hands up. Who did? Maxwell is the only player who raised his hand. Langer shook his head.

Fearing the implications for the broadcast deal, I arranged a meeting with Cricket Australia’s broadcast staff, Fox and Langer. A solution was found on the eve of the first match, with players talking to spider cam when it dropped down during breaks.

What was all the fuss about? And why so close to the start of the season?

An hour before the first match, as players were warming up on Adelaide Oval and Mark Howard was dodging fast bowlers doing pre-match interviews for Fox, there was a roar in my left ear.

Startled, I looked around. There was Langer, steely-eyed and square-jawed. I quickly looked to see if a Fox cameraman or cable had got in the way of a warm-up drill, but could see nothing untoward.

“What’s that?” Langer roared again, pointing over his shoulder. “We’ve got to play these blokes in an hour!”

The video screen next to the Adelaide Oval scoreboard was showing highlights of Sri Lankan captain Lasith Malinga, bowling batsmen with his trademark slinging, swinging yorkers.

“[With Langer, you] were never certain whether your question was going to be met with an answer or an explosion.”

Malcolm Conn
I had another quick look around the ground but no one was paying attention to the screen. They were too busy watching cricket balls flying around during warm-ups. I went off to look for whoever was in charge of screen output, but could not help wondering whether there might be more important things to worry about going into the first match of the summer.

Like many of these minor incidents, Langer’s latest blow-up at a Cricket Australia digital journalist during the recent tour of Bangladesh is nothing in isolation, but contributes to a pattern of erratic behaviour.

The digital journalist was castigated in clear view of the squad by team manager Gavin Dovey because cricket.com.au — controlled by Cricket Australia but run as an international cricket news site — had posted a video of Bangladesh celebrating their series victory over Australia. Dovey later admitted he could have handled things better.

Resolve Langer issue once and for all: Gilchrist
When Langer found out, he marched over to the journalist and told him to be very careful, or words to that effect. It was schoolyard stuff which in another setting could have become an HR matter. At the very least it was completely unnecessary and again, a long way from an incident worth worrying about when your team is 3-0 down with two matches to play.

I’ve known Justin Langer most of his cricketing life. As a cricket writer, I covered his debut when he made a courageous half century against the West Indies in early 1993, wearing a blow on the helmet from fast bowler Ian Bishop at his peak under a dark Adelaide sky.

I admire the way he fought for eight years to establish himself as half of the most successful opening partnership in Australian history with Matthew Hayden.

Tearaway teenager keen to show express pace against India
And his standing as a statesman was pivotal to restoring trust with the Australian public when he was appointed as coach to pick up the pieces after the ‘Sandpapergate’ meltdown in South Africa three years ago.

But players are being worn down by the volatile, high-stress environment he inhabits as coach, and his folksy, clichéd motivational homilies.

As one player told the Herald and The Age: “It becomes draining and affects everything.”

https://amp.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/grumpy-coach-how-langer-s-volatile-approach-is-wearing-australia-down-20210817-p58jkg.html?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Titan24]

This grumpy coach article has put Langer in a pretty poor light. If his style of coaching is draining players and the staff then surely something worth looking at by ACB.

Along with many other things pointed out this one stands out for me:

“[With Langer, you] were never certain whether your question was going to be met with an answer or an explosion.”

Then a player’s point of view:

As one player told the Herald and The Age: “It becomes draining and affects everything”

 

[MenInG]

Australia's white-ball captain Aaron Finch recently played down the rumours of a rift between head coach Justin Langer and players in the side. Langer has had a troublesome time as the head coach of the Australian side in the last few months amidst the team's poor show against the likes of West Indies and Bangladesh.

Australia was thrashed 4-1 in the five-match T20I series against West Indies in the Caribbean which was followed by another shambolic defeat in the five-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The hosts humiliated a depleted Aussie side 4-1 at home to register their first-ever series win against Australia across formats.

Langer's role as head coach has come under intense scrutiny after the team's woeful defeats at the hands of the West Indies and Bangladesh. There have also been rumours of a rift between the head coach and some Aussie players, who are not happy with his coaching style. When asked about the reports of a rift, Finch said he doesn't know the answer.

“It’s a good question, and I don’t know the answer to that,” Finch said on Big Sports Breakfast. “All I’ll say is when you lose, everything is magnified and everything is highlighted," he added.

Finch said losing adds to the mental toll that players are already burdened with having to deal with strict bio bubbles due to COVID-19. The Australian skipper admitted that the team has not been up to the mark in the last few months and that losses can result in players getting burnt out.

“As I mentioned with the players on tour with bubble fatigue and guys not having any escape while you’re on tour, you’re locked into cricket mode almost 24/7 because you can’t get out and go for a coffee down the road or you can’t go out for dinner somewhere else," said Finch.

“You’re literally just confined to the hotel 24/7. When you’re just around cricket the whole time, that can consume you so you get a little bit of burnout from that as well. And when you’re losing that just adds multiple layers to it as well. As everyone knows in sport, wins and losses are what counts and unfortunately, we haven’t been up to the mark in the last eight-ten months," he added.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...etween-players-and-coach-justin-langer/800588

 

[Saj]

Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s CEO, said:

“Justin (Langer) has done an incredible job in raising the culture, values and behaviours of the Australian men’s team since he took on the role in 2018. His efforts have restored public faith in the national team which is a side all Australian’s can be incredibly proud of.

“He is contracted as Head Coach through to the middle of next year with the focus now on a successful T20 World Cup campaign followed by the home Ashes defence in what is one of the most anticipated Series and summers of cricket in Australia for many years.

“Like many in the community and around the world the team has had an extremely disruptive and challenging 18 months during the pandemic. Despite those challenges the side has had great success in One-Day, Test and T20 cricket, when all players were available.

“Justin, his coaching staff and the leaders within the team have an equally important part to play in ensuring a successful summer ahead for the Australian cricket team.”

Strange statement.

Usually performances and results show if a coach is doing a good job.

 

[OMB]

‘Stabbing him in the back’: Khawaja slams Aussie dressing room leaks, busts Langer myth
Khawaja has his say on Langer

Justin Langer has found a staunch supporter from an unlikely source in Usman Khawaja, who believes the man that played a key role in his Australia axing should see out his contract.

The Australian coach is feeling the heat ahead of the T20 World Cup and Ashes amid dressing room leaks about his intensity and mood swings that have some players on edge.

Years earlier, Khawaja voiced the same opinion directly to Langer in a moment that was captured on Amazon documentary The Test.

Watch India’s Tour of England Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

In the now infamous scene, Khawaja tells Langer that players feel “intimidated” by him and like they’re “walking on egg shells”.

Months later, Khawaja was dropped midway through the 2019 Ashes and hasn’t played for Australia in any format again.

But in a video posted on Sunday to his YouTube channel, Khawaja vigorously supported Langer and strongly denied rumours the pair have an ongoing feud.

In the five-minute monologue, Khawaja praised Langer for his passion and put the heat back onto the players who he says are underperforming and speaking behind the coach’s back.

“How do you think JL feels?” Khawaja said. “He probably feels like the guys in the team are stabbing him in the back, and that’s what it looks like.

“That’s why it’s so disappointing. It’s actually a really bad look. This is something the group needs to sort out ASAP.”

He added: “Let’s put it into perspective here. It’s not always 100 per cent the coach’s fault. The guys aren’t performing, the players have to take onus too at some stage.

“The guys have to perform better and at end of day it’s not just one person, so I think there needs to be some sort of perspective put around this too.”

In a separate chat with Fox Sports News, Khawaja said he “feels for” Langer and that it has been “disappointing” to see players leak information instead of confronting the coach.

“At the end of the day I’ve always been big on if you’ve got an issue, you go up and talk to the person,” Khawaja told Fox Sports News. “JL, he’s got one of the kindest hearts in the world. He doesn’t do anything except for the best reasons.”

Khawaja said in his YouTube video that there’s an issue in the dressing room, but is confident Langer will address it and work on himself to create a happier environment.

He said that Langer’s greatest weakness is how emotional he becomes — but insisted the emotion is born out of the 50-year-old’s passion.

Khawaja said he believes Langer should be given the chance to lead Australia at the T20 World Cup and Ashes before a decision is made on his future when his contract runs out in mid-2022.

He noted that the pressure on Langer has ramped up in the face of series defeats to the West Indies and Bangladesh, which he believes is “harsh” given Australia was far from full strength.

‘STOP IT RIGHT THERE’
Speaking about his own relationship with Langer, Khawaja maintains that he shouldn’t have been dropped during the Ashes, and believes he’s still within the best six batsmen in Australia.

Nonetheless, the pair maintain a healthy relationship and share a mutual respect.

“I get asked this question all the time, people have seen the Amazon Test series, ‘Uzzie is out of the team because of Justin Langer’. Let me stop it right there ... my relationship with Justin Langer is really good,” Khawaja said.

“To be honest, I still talk to him, I still text him here and there to this day and that’s because we have a lot of respect for each other.

“People think I got dropped because I spoke up to him, stood up to him and all these other things. It’s actually quite the opposite. I actually feel like I got closer with him and he actually gained my respect and I gained his respect because we had some very open and honest conversations together.

“So let’s just stop it right there. Look, I got dropped during the Ashes. There were two people who dropped me; Trevor Hohns and Justin Langer. So it wasn’t just JL.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/cricket-australia-justin-langer-defended-by-usman-khawaja-t20-world-cup-ashes-2021-player-leaks-contract/news-story/022614830f226db7fdfbe264332d2bfe

 

[Junaids]

Langer is a dead man walking.

He got his job the same way as Misbah - for his playing career and his connections.

But there was never any substance - the job should have gone to Jason Gillespie in the first place.

Langer is viewed as having restored values after Sandpapergate. The reality is the reverse: he and Cricket Australia allowed the four NSW bowlers and Paine to escape scrutiny of their apparent failure to notice that they had been handling doctored balls all day long.

In actual fact, Langer’s own deep-seated intensity has alienated his players from the start, and two home series defeats by an Indian team which keeps losing to New Zealand tell an eloquent tale of a coach whose players neither like, respect nor even listen to him.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

Langer is a dead man walking.

He got his job the same way as Misbah - for his playing career and his connections.

But there was never any substance - the job should have gone to Jason Gillespie in the first place.

Langer is viewed as having restored values after Sandpapergate. The reality is the reverse: he and Cricket Australia allowed the four NSW bowlers and Paine to escape scrutiny of their apparent failure to notice that they had been handling doctored balls all day long.

In actual fact, Langer’s own deep-seated intensity has alienated his players from the start, and two home series defeats by an Indian team which keeps losing to New Zealand tell an eloquent tale of a coach whose players neither like, respect nor even listen to him.

How can you compare Langers coaching pedigree with Misbah?

Longer was head coach of Weatern Australia and then Perth Scorchers for 8 years or something.

 

[MenInG]

Australia coach Justin Langer has cleared the air with players while seeking to reset focus to the T20 World Cup and Ashes.

Media reports of player unease about Langer hit a crescendo in recent weeks, prompting Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Nick Hockley to release a public statement backing the coach to oversee the team this summer.

Hockley and CA chairman Earl Eddings then held a call with on-field leaders Tim Paine, Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins.

Langer, who is contracted until mid-2022, has since debriefed with players.

"We all got a lot off our chests," Langer told the West Australian newspaper.

"I think we are all in a better place now.

"The situation at the moment is very tough but I am confident that I will become a better coach from it.

"When you win, everyone is happy and gets on with things but when you are losing, that is when the finger pointing starts and people look for excuses.

"We have had a rough trot in recent times but we retained the Ashes only a little while ago and were ranked No.1 in Test and T20 cricket not that long ago. Get back to winning and you won't hear about anything else."

It comes a week after Usman Khawaja declared Langer is the right man to coach Australia, lamenting how the under-siege mentor would feel like players "are stabbing him in the back".

Australia's World Cup campaign begins in the UAE on October 23, while several squad members, who have been inactive since the first phase of the IPL, will soon depart for the second phase in the UAE.

It is the second time this year that Langer has sought to address player unease with his coaching style.

Leadership consultant Tim Ford canvassed players' views about Langer and other topics after the 2020-21 summer.

Ford's review was passed onto Langer, who raised the subject as part of a camp on the Gold Coast that preceded this year's T20 tour of the West Indies.

"I left the camp feeling like Superman," Langer said in July.

"I'm not a great coach yet, I'm aspiring to be a great coach.

"I was really honest about that and it was a really, really uplifting two days."

Australia suffered 4-1 T20 series losses in the Caribbean and Bangladesh, with seven players opting to skip the tour.

Cummins remained home with his pregnant fiancée and will also skip the upcoming IPL resumption. Steve Smith cited an elbow injury, but will return to the IPL, as will David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

Kane Richardson, Jhye Richardson and Daniel Sams also missed the Windies and Bangladesh tours.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/jus...layers-refocus-t20-world-cup-ashes/2021-08-31

 

[BunnyRabbit]

The guy with Elite Honesty has been an Elite failure. Australian cricketers are known to be rough and temperamental so another emotional guy being in charge of the team is only going to create further tensions especially with a weak test captain in Tim Paine who seems too bogged down to say no to anything the big guns say or do. Paine even let Smith make the on field decisions in Ashes 2019.

They need a diplomatic and calm guy who can be a peacemaker. After Punter, Clarke tried to be a strict disciplinarian and the whole team started hating him.

Someone like Gillespie or Bayliss would be a much better option.

 

[MenInG]

Former Test skipper Michael Clarke believes that current Australian coach Justin Langer will resign after The Ashes, despite still having time left to run on his contract.

Langer has been at the centre of plenty of criticism in recent months, but silenced a few of those doubters during Australia's successful T20 World Cup campaign.

Given very little hope of causing damage during the tournament, Australia ended up winning the tournament following a fantastic win over New Zealand in Sunday night's final.

All eyes are now looking towards The Ashes series against old rivals England on home soil this summer, with the first Test beginning on December 8th in Brisbane.

And despite the success in the T20 World Cup and many predicting a strong series against England, Clarke feels as though Langer will quit after the series despite a contract running through until the recently-announced tour of Pakistan.

“I reckon Australia is going to win The Ashes and JL is going to resign," he told Big Sports Breakfast.

"JL is going to say you know what, I have achieved what I come in to achieve and I’ve copped so much criticism and had so much stick put on me.

"He’s going to say I’ve done my time, come to do a job and get Australia back to No.1 in the world and I have done that and I’m out of here.

"I don’t even reckon he will go to that (tour of Pakistan). I reckon his last Test will be the last Test match of The Ashes series. Australia will win and they will take a new coach to Pakistan.

“I hope I’m wrong – I think Langer is the right guy to be coaching Australia right now. I think he has done an absolutely brilliant job.

"I think with all the criticism, it’s a little bit like Ricky Ponting at the end of his career, where Punter got to a stage where all the criticism finally caught up with him and he said my time is up."

Langer has been in charge of the Australian side since 2018, and during that time has had some success at Test level, including retaining The Ashes away from home in 2019.

The criticism in recent months has centred around his coaching style and his relationship with players, but received some unlikely support from Usman Khawaja, as well as the backing of old mate Matthew Hayden.

As for who will take over the job if Langer does resign, Clarke believes one man will be at the front of the line - but urged Australia to look towards a left-field idea of having two separate coaches.

“Probably Jason Gillespie," he said.

"But I think there is an opportunity to look at two coaches – a short-form specialist and a long-form.

"The only problem with that, is there enough money in the pot for the two coaches to get paid and still do the work?

"Just say it is Test cricket only, it’s a bit like State of Origin and it’s a full-time job. You have to go and watch games, talking to high-performance managers, talking to different states – it would still be a full-time job.

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/cri...icism-michael-clarke/tcfg7cl76wpyz3c1zcs1bc1v

 

[MenInG]

(Reuters) - Cricket Australia’s high performance chief Ben Oliver said that a decision on Justin Langer’s future would be made after the completion of the Ashes series, with the coach’s contract set to expire in mid-2022.

Langer’s leadership was criticised amid player discontent in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup but he steered Australia to victory over New Zealand in the final and has guided them to an unassailable 3-0 lead over England in the Ashes series.

“We made a commitment prior to the start of the summer that we’d be really focused on the World Cup campaign, this Ashes campaign and once this series is finished we’d come back as a collective and work through that,” Oliver said of Langer’s position.

“Justin has done a great job. I think he really embraced the conversations that were had over the winter and he’s really evolved and leaned into that.”

Langer’s position at the helm came under scrutiny in August as a result of discontent over his coaching style, prompting talks between players and officials that saw the former opening batsman alter his approach.

“Those conversations were really constructive at the time and a great credit to the player leaders who were able to provide some feedback that was really constructive,” said Oliver.

“Justin embraced those conversations and ultimately we’ve created -- and he’s helped create along with the other support staff and the player leaders -- an environment where the team has been able to perform incredibly well.”

The final test of the Ashes series begins in Hobart on Jan. 14. Australia then have white-ball meetings with New Zealand and Sri Lanka scheduled before the test side travel to Pakistan for a three-match series in March.

Oliver said there was no specific timeline for the talks on Langer’s contract but that it was great to see the success Australia was having.

“The team has played some incredible cricket and it’s a great credit to the players, the staff and to everyone who’s been involved in the journey over a long period of time now for these players to support them,” he added.

 

[James]

They have just won the T20 World Cup very impressively, and they are running away with the Ashes by a huge margin. Why not retain Langer? He seems to be doing a terrific job.

 

[muqarrab]

They have just won the T20 World Cup very impressively, and they are running away with the Ashes by a huge margin. Why not retain Langer? He seems to be doing a terrific job.

There were rumblings before the world cup, my guess is CA will go for a milder character, someone like Kirsten or Bayliss.

 

[Hassaan HS]

Trevor Bayliss in frame to succeed Justin Langer as Australia head coach

Trevor Bayliss, the World Cup-winning former England head coach, has emerged as the in-house favourite to take charge of the Australian men’s team should Justin Langer’s contract not be renewed after the Ashes.

The Guardian understands Bayliss is the preferred candidate to be the next head coach among the current support staff and senior players after a 12-month period that has delivered on-field success yet seen Langer’s methods questioned behind the scenes.

Sourced reports of player dissatisfaction at the 51-year-old’s supposedly intense and volatile approach first surfaced after the 2-1 defeat by India last January and led to several rounds of clear-the-air talks. Cricket Australia even released a statement last August backing the head coach, who is under contract until June 2022.But while Langer’s recently stated hopes of a renewal appeared to be strengthened by Australia’s surprise victory at the T20 World Cup and the current 3-0 Ashes scoreline going into this week’s fifth Test in Hobart, Pat Cummins, the Test captain, notably declined to discuss the matter after the win in Melbourne.

Cummins said: “We’ll all sit down together after this series or whenever his tenure is up. His contract is up for renewal in a few months and we’ll deal with that then.”

Andrew McDonald, the popular assistant coach, is viewed by many inside Australian cricket to be a future head coach of the men’s team and has been a beneficiary of the previously hands-on Langer being forced to delegate more responsibilities to his support staff since discussions with the players.

But over the course of the current Ashes series a belief has grown in the set-up that the more experienced Bayliss would serve as an ideal immediate successor to Langer given a track record of setting up relaxed, player-led environments.Bayliss, 59, remains hugely popular among the large New South Wales faction of the Australia dressing room from his two previous spells coaching the state side – most recently 2013 to 2015 – and also has strong links with its most prominent member, Cummins, through Penrith Cricket Club.

Since stepping down as England head coach in 2019 – a four-year stint that returned an Ashes win in 2015 and the World Cup four years later – Bayliss has worked on the franchise T20 circuit and currently heads up Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.

Asked about his ambitions last June, Bayliss told the Sydney Morning Herald: “The only full-time job I’d contemplate in the future if it came up would be the Australian job. But I’m very happy coaching two or three of the franchise teams around the world.”

Ben Oliver, Australia’s performance director, has said a consultation process over the head coach role involving players and staff will begin after the conclusion of the Ashes, but played down suggestions of splitting the role by way of format.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...ss-australia-cricket-head-coach-justin-langer

 

[MenInG]

Australia men's coach Justin Langer says he's not feeling "edgy" about his future before looming meetings with Cricket Australia hierarchy following the Ashes series triumph.

Langer, nearing the end of his four-year contract, will soon meet with Cricket Australia bosses.

Fresh from overseeing players' efforts to secure a 4-0 triumph in the Vodafone Ashes and capturing Australia's first Twenty20 World Cup, Langer says he's content in the lead-up to the crucial talks.

"I'm never edgy (about the future)," he told SEN Radio on Wednesday.

"Before the World Cup and before the Ashes, we've never ever been better prepared so it's not a coincidence ... that we've had the success that we've had.

"Whatever happens from now on, we can all be incredibly proud of this little period.

"We had two missions: to win the World Cup and to win the Ashes.

"To do that in such a short period is a monumental effort and we're all really satisfied with that, we're all really happy about that, we're all really, really proud of that.

"I sit here at the moment feeling really content with the last two series."

Langer coached both triumphs amid speculation about his future, acknowledging he had lightened his renowned intensity which had reportedly upset some players.

High performance boss Ben Oliver has flagged players would be among those consulted in a process to be conducted now the Ashes series is over, with a clearer picture of the coaching landscape expected to emerge before March's Test tour of Pakistan.

But Langer said he was always comfortable with his agreement with CA hierarchy to delay any discussions about his job until after the Ashes.

"People don't seem to believe this but the absolute truth is before the World Cup and the Ashes we all committed to (at) the end of the Ashes to sit down and have some conversations," he said.

"It has been four really big years and it's an all-encompassing job and it's a tough gig … that's just the truth.

"We all said that we would sit down after the Ashes so, in the next little bit, I'm sure those conversations will start to be had.

"There's plenty to be spoken about."

Langer has seen a groundswell of support from his former Australia teammates in recent days, led by Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist who have both been vocal in endorsing him to continue as coach.

Ponting told cricket.com.au that CA had no choice but to renew Langer's contract and warned against giving players too much say in a post-Ashes appraisal of the coaching structure.

"I can't see how he's not (offered another contract)," Ponting, speaking to cricket.com.au, said of Langer.

"I know there was a bit of noise created the last couple of weeks and Cricket Australia giving no assurances to him continuing on.

"I can't see how Justin can't go on. The way that I would equate it is if Justin is not to be offered another deal on the back of the best coaching year of his life, that's like (Ashes player of the series) Travis Head not getting offered a contract next year.

"(The input of) a couple of senior players would be enough. I don't see why a fringe player (should get a say). I don't understand why they'd even be asking a lot of the players to be honest.

"Pat fine, Finchy fine - the captains of the teams respectively, maybe a couple more of the senior guys - but that's all. I don't think it needs to go any further than that."

Former coach Darren Lehmann, who stepped down from the job in wake of the Cape Town scandal in 2018 that ushered in Langer, has urged his successor to go out on a high, telling Fox Sports that he risks burning out if he continues in the job.

But Ponting, whose support for the Western Australian echoes similar calls from Steve Waugh and Shane Warne, insisted Langer's record should dictate that he remains in the job.

"The other thing that they have to keep in the back of their minds - whether it's players, whether it's Cricket Australia - is that sometimes the grass is not always greener," said Ponting.

"What they've been able to do has been pretty remarkable these last four or five months.

"Justin's been asked to change a lot of things about the way that he coached. He's been able to do that. We've all seen how much of a back seat he's taken the last few months compared to beforehand.

"He's got the assistants more heavily involved which is one of the things that apparently needed to change around the group.

"He's done everything that's been asked of him and the results have followed. So if he wants to continue on, I can't see how he doesn't get another two- or three-year contract."

Sydney Thunder coach and former England and NSW mentor Trevor Bayliss has been flagged as a leading contender should Langer not continue in the job.

Bayliss, who has also previously coached Sri Lanka and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, said only the Australia role would lure him back to coaching in international cricket again.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/jus...s-review-players-ponting-gilchrist/2022-01-19

 

[MenInG]

Justin Langer’s position as national coach is delicately poised, with Cricket Australia telling him he may have to reapply for his job during a heated meeting on Friday morning.

Foxsports.com.au can exclusively reveal Langer met with CA chief executive Nick Hockley and head of performance Ben Oliver in Melbourne to discuss his future in the role.

Among a variety of sensitive discussion points — which included Pat Cummins’ influence on the final decision — Langer reacted angrily when the possibility of him re-applying for the job was raised.

Langer’s position was not only would he not re-apply and go up against a field of candidates with inferior resumes, but that his record warrants a multi-year deal after winning the T20 World Cup and the Ashes in the space of three months.

Senior NewsCorp cricket writer Robert Craddock last Friday reported Langer’s future “could hinge on whether he would consider a short-term deal”.

Foxsports.com.au understands Langer would reject a 12 to 14-month arrangement, which would take in three sub-continental tours, a home T20 World Cup, next summer’s Test opponents South Africa and the West Indies, plus the 2023 Ashes.

A short-term contract would be viewed by Langer as a trial period, despite having spent four years in the job, which is why he reacted so strongly when it was raised in the meeting.

In Friday’s showdown, which took place just hours before Langer attended Marvel Stadium to watch his former BBL club Perth Scorchers win their fourth title, the former Test opener did not hold back.

When the subject of re-applying for the job he has held for four years was raised, Langer’s reaction was particularly pointed, according to sources familiar with the top-secret meeting.

Early in the discussion, Cummins’ name was raised and Langer was quizzed on the strength of his relationship with the Test captain.

According to players, the pair have shared a productive working partnership this summer, but on multiple occasions the New South Welshman has failed to publicly endorse a contract extension for Langer.

Limited overs captain Aaron Finch, who will also be consulted by CA, echoed a similar sentiment to Cummins, praising Langer’s recent work but refusing to endorse a new deal.

There is a view among players that Cummins simply tried to calm the waters this summer but his perspective has not changed: It’s time for a change of coach.

In Friday morning’s meeting, Langer expressed confidence that his willingness to listen last winter and change his intense coaching methods had been well received by Cummins and the players.

Either way, Cummins — whether he accepts it or not — looms as the key to Langer’s future. Neil Maxwell, who’s Cummins’ former manager but remans a close advisor, was also raised in Friday’s discussion. Maxwell manages Trevor Bayliss.

Oliver, a long-time confidant of Langer and the third person in Friday’s meeting, is understood to be leaning towards recommending a contract extension, though it’s unclear how long for.

CA’s board will meet this week but it’s unclear when they will make the final decision on Langer, who’s exasperated by the time it’s taking and the public pressure he’s under following a highly successful period across two formats.

It’s understood Langer wants his contract situation to be sorted well before the Pakistan tour. If there is still no certainty, there is a strong change Langer will not go at all.

Langer had taken charge of the team after the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018. His current contract is due to end in June.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...e/news-story/97e1eba42bd9b3de3e44805cbbb8e703

 

[MenInG]

Justin Langer has put his already tenuous position as national cricket coach in further jeopardy after melting down in a meeting with Cricket Australia.

The CA board is likely to take a dim view of Langer’s behaviour when it meets to discuss his tenure on Friday.

In an increasingly desperate attempt to keep his job despite a full-scale player and support staff mutiny back in August about his intense and inconsistent micromanagement style, Langer is refusing to accept anything less than a full contract renewal.

Details of a meeting last Friday between Langer, chief executive Nick Hockley and head of high performance Ben Oliver have been leaked claiming that Langer was told he may have to reapply for his position.

Hockley and Oliver were meeting with Langer as part of their preparation to take a submission to the board on Friday.

A Cricket Australia spokesman said: “Justin is contracted as Head Coach through to the middle of this year and we have consistently maintained discussions around the future of the role would commence following the conclusion of the men’s Ashes Series.

“We have no comment about those confidential discussions.”

Langer was contacted for comment.

Fox Sports reported that Langer would refuse any short-term deal should it be offered to him and would refuse to tour Pakistan if his contract was not renewed.

Langer’s volatile reaction to any suggestion that he should not continue as coach is in keeping with his demeanour during his tenure in the role.

While Cricket Australia has been insisting that Langer will tour Pakistan as coach, there have been confusing messages coming out of the Australian squad.

Multiple sources claim that Langer had been saying that he would not tour Pakistan but more recently changed his position to say he would go.

There has been a concerted PR campaign in recent weeks from Langer’s former teammates saying he should be reappointed following Australia claiming the Twenty20 World Cup title in November and winning the Ashes 4-0.

Equally, there is an unbending belief by many of the players and support staff that the further Langer is away from the team, the better it performs.

While there is great respect for what Langer achieved as a player and an icon of the game, which was honoured last week with his induction into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, none of the senior players who publicly acknowledged Langer this season have said he should go on.

Following the mutiny in August, Langer was forced to take a back seat while assistant coaches Andrew McDonald and Michael Di Venuto ran the team with input from the senior players.

Cricket Australia say that Langer played an important strategic role over the summer.

However, multiple sources around the squad claim that Langer was moved aside and had little input.

The same sources point to Australia’s inconsistent 2-2 Ashes tour of England in 2019 and the history-making series loss to India in Australia last summer as examples of the squad being worn out by the high-pressure environment Langer created.

They claim the current set-up with McDonald and Di Venuto effectively in charge has been much more relaxed and productive.

The fear is that if Langer is reappointed, McDonald and Di Venuto will leave to seek other opportunities.

While it is uncertain how dramatically the CA board will react to the Langer situation on Friday, the board are poised to rubber-stamp Australia’s first tour of Pakistan for 24 years.

Despite concerns by a number of players over health and safety issues, particularly after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last year, virtually a full-strength squad is expected to tour for the three Tests.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sp...-end-for-australia-coach-20220131-p59sn6.html

 

[MenInG]

Cricket Australia has denied reports national coach Justin Langer threw a tantrum at a “fiery" meeting after being told he may need to reapply for his job. Langer’s four-year contract ends in mid-2022 and there is speculation over his future, despite Australia’s recent success in the Ashes series and at the T20 World Cup.

Local media reports said Langer, whose intense management style created dressing room tensions last year, “went ballistic" during talks with senior Cricket Australia staff over his future.

The 51-year-old was reportedly incensed at the prospect of having to reapply for the job he took in 2018, when Australian cricket was mired in the Sandpaper-gate cheating scandal.

Mitchell Starc Claims Maiden Allan Border Medal, Ashleigh Gardner Wins Belinda Clarke Award as CA Announces Annual Awards

Cricket Australia confirmed contract discussions with Langer began last Friday but rejected suggestions the meeting turned ugly.

“While we do not comment on confidential conversations, we felt on this occasion it was important to correct the record," the governing body said in a statement.

“Among other false claims, we reject outright the assertion that the meeting was fiery or heated and that Justin was asked to reapply for his job."

The governing body said it would make an announcement when the contract discussions were complete.

Former opening batter Langer has restored Australia’s cricketing pride after the ball-tampering affair in South Africa revealed the national side was plagued by a toxic win-at-all-costs mentality.

But there have long been rumours of discontent over his “headmaster-like" leadership style and former captain Tim Paine revealed last August that players had complained to Langer about the issue.

Former captain Mark Taylor said he suspected there was a push for change within the Australian camp because Langer had achieved the goal of cleaning up the team culture after the 2018 cheating scandal.

“(Now) there’s a movement –- maybe by the players, maybe by Cricket Australia themselves –- that (the) job has been done, and it might be time for more of a man manager and less of an absolute cricket coach and disciplinarian," Taylor told Sydney’s 2GB radio.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...rsation-with-coach-justin-langer-4720205.html

 

[Gilly]

I guess this is what happens when journalists report with sources that are not identified.

If the source is confidential then they can say things that are not true and no one can question them.

Good on CA for coming out and pointing out that shoddy journalism has just made up stories to get clicks.

 

[MenInG]

Australian cricket coach Justin Langer secretly knocked back a six figure sum in bonuses because he felt it would be morally inappropriate amid Covid job cuts.

It is understood Langer privately informed his bosses he could not, in all good conscience, accept bonus payments while other staff members had been made redundant.

Neither side has made the matter public.

Cricket Australia shed 40 staff and cut most executive salaries during a $40 million savings exercise during the pandemic.

Langer’s four-year deal, thought to be in the $900,000 a year range, was signed before the Covid era in 2018 and included performances bonuses, some of which he declined to activate after being concerned by the staff-shedding.

Langer’s future goes on the line at a Cricket Australia board meeting on Friday where a recommendation will be made by performance boss Ben Oliver over whether to offering him a new deal.

Langer’s thoughtful gesture to resist the temptation to squeeze his contract for all it is worth adds to the complex narrative around his future.

Former teammates would not be surprised Langer quietly rejected promised dollars because he has always had a strong moral compass and been capable of acts of great sensitivity and compassion such as breaking camp to console former Test captain Tim Paine in Hobart.

Even his detractors concede this.

The problem with players has been his volatility.

Like many other coaches who were raised in tougher eras and now coach in more sensitive ones, he has been challenged to adapt and it has not been easy.

Former teammates continue to support Langer. Test batsman Damien Martyn conducted a Twitter poll in which more than 80% of fans say they would like to see Langer reappointed.

If Langer is reappointed it is likely to be on a short term deal and the white and red ball roles are unlikely to be split if the contract is two years or less.

Given Langer was at the helm when Australia won the World T20 in the UAE in October he would be given the right to defend it in Australia next summer if his contract is extended.

It is possible that instead of appointing two coaches Australia could rest the senior coach from the occasional white ball series which are becoming increasing irrelevant outside the World Cups.

Not all of Langer’s former teammates feel he should continue with the man he followed into the role, Darren Lehmann, feeling he should quit on a high.

“If I was him I’d walk away, actually,” Lehmann told Fox Sports last month. “Four years, out on a high. Perfect. I coached for a year too long and in that moment I didn’t realise it. I think four years is a perfect tenure. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. He could coach one format, but all three is a lot to take on … JL knows my thoughts on that. I’ve spoken to him about it.”

ONE MAN WILL DECIDE LANGER’S FATE

Justin Langer’s future as Australian coach has boiled down to a matter of who is running the game – the board or its players.

The answer will emerge on Friday when a decision is made by the CA board on whether Langer gets an extension to his four-year deal with the coach now facing a multitude of challenges.

Sitting in his hotel in Melbourne, without any sighting of his Perth-based family since before the summer, Langer is leading a bizarre double life.

Langer knows who his mates are. His trouble is he is not sure of his enemies.

On one hand he has support by the barrel load from old Test mates like Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist who feel his reappointment should be a formality on the back of his recent World T20 and Ashes success.

When Fox Sports Tom Morris named a Test XI of pro-Langer ex-players (Matt Hayden, Steve Waugh etc) on a crisis edition Fox Cricket podcast, Mark Waugh, who was omitted but keen to show his colours, chimed on with “I must be 12th man.’’

But there’s a numbing silence above and below Langer from those with more direct influence on the decision - the CA heavy hitters and the players.

Players have never had more influence than they do at the moment.

For all the strident, vocal support of his ex-teammates the Langer story is as much about what people haven’t said as what they have.

Even with the rich waves of Ashes euphoria sweeping over him after a Test win Pat Cummins fell silent when asked about Langer earlier in the summer.

While he changed his tune and later praised him, Cummins went nowhere near uttering the magic sentence “so I can’t see any reason why he shouldn’t get another deal.’’

There was none of that as rumours swirled that players felt Langer had done his job restoring a moral compass after the Sandpapergate fiasco and it was time for a softer touch.

Cummins is a fine fellow doing a good job as Australian captain and has a way of gliding through and diffusing controversial moments with the graceful ease that is the sign of a polished leader.

But this is by far his biggest and potentially divisive call as Test skipper. His opinion matters.

If he supports Langer the coach will be rubber stamped in a heartbeat. If he raises his bat and lets the board handle it Langer will be rehired as well.

But if he takes strong objection to Langer’s appointment things get very tricky indeed.

The lid on Langer’s saucepan reportedly bobbled up under the hot steam beneath it when he met with Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley and high performance manager Ben Oliver last Friday.

This issue has been allowed to fester for too long. You can understand Langer’s rising anxiety levels.

Some players felt that when news broke about a player revolt last year over Langer – and it was a real and disturbing – the players were unofficially given a nudge and a wink from Cricket Australia that Langer would see out his contract with the World T20 and the Ashes and then be moved on.

But Australia lost just one match all summer, there have been administrative changes since then.

His stocks rose but some of the old scars never really healed, leaving the board with their most challenging call for many years.

Australian men may still be feeling the warm glow of an Ashes and T20 World victory but coach Justin Langer could be out of a job by Friday night.

If that happens assistant Andrew McDonald will then be the man most likely to lead the team to Pakistan at month’s end.

Langer’s fate will be decided at what will be one of the most important board meetings in Cricket Australia’s recent history.

It is unlikely he would be offered a four year deal to mirror the first with talk of a two-year extension, but there is no certainty he will be offered any new deal.

The board will hear a presentation from manager of teams Ben Oliver on Langer’s future, it will also be presented with a list of five candidates short-listed to take over the role of chair which was vacated by Earl Eddings on the eve of the last AGM.

The Australian revealed recently that Tony Shepherd, John McMurtrie, John Gillam and director Lachie Henderson were on the short list.

It can be further revealed that a fifth candidate, University of Queensland chancellor Peter Varghese is also on the list.

The fraught future of the Australian head coaching position will presumably take precedent at the meeting.

Langer is in an invidious position and one that is more complicated than meets the eye.

A beloved character who devotes himself to the game, he is living in exile from his family in Perth and has to serve two weeks quarantine when the borders open up. If he retains his job he will have a few days with his wife and daughters before the side leaves for a Test and white ball series in Pakistan around the 23rd.

Final details of quarantines and host venues are yet to be signed off on the tour nor has the role of coach.

If Langer’s contract is not extended he will not lead the team to Pakistan, but McDonald has been taking a more active role in day to day coaching in recent months and the players are confident he can do the role.

Oliver and chief executive Nick Hockley met individually with Aaron Finch in Melbourne, Pat Cummins in Sydney and then Langer on Friday before the BBL final in Melbourne.

The two Australian captains had expressed their dissatisfaction with the coach’s style in a meeting with Hockley and former chair Earl Eddings in August. Cummins was vice-captain at that point and Tim Pain

e was part of the meeting in which grievances about his coaching style were aired.

Eddings defended Langer and the players were told to speak to the coach who acknowledged their concerns and took a more hands off role.

There’s broad support outside the team for Langer who was charged initially with rescuing Australian men’s cricket after the disaster of the sandpaper scandal and then asked to deliver results.

The fact he has accepted a back seat role when that was requested of him more recently makes it difficult to understand what more he can do, however the relationship between the coach and captains is critical.

It is hard to see Langer being offered another four year term and a two-year extension could be a compromise acceptable to him and the organisation. Where the playing group stands is difficult to establish but it can be safely assumed they want change.

Sensitivities around the issue were highlighted when Cricket Australia denied elements of a story published by Fox Cricket about the Friday meeting between Langer, Hockley and Oliver.

“We reject outright the assertion that the

meeting was fiery or heated and that Justin was asked to reapply for his job,” it said.

“Justin has always been contracted as Head Coach through to the middle of this year and we have consistently maintained that discussions around the future of the role would commence following the conclusion of the men’s Ashes Series.

“Friday’s meeting was the first time that we had the opportunity to meet together in person, reflect on the team’s success and discuss the road ahead.

“We will continue with this process and make an announcement once it is complete.”

Fox Sports stood by their story which contained a lot of inside detail from the meeting between the three.

Richard Freudenstein is acting chair of the board since Eddings departure and will lead Friday’s meeting. At the time of his appointment Cricket Australia said it hoped to have a replacement before the end of the year.

That process hit a snag when the states rejected the suggestion that sitting director Henderson assume the role and insisted that the “rigorous process” promised be adhered to and more candidates were approached around Christmas.

Shepherd has a gold plated sport, politics and business background, McMurtrie is still connected with the Adelaide club he played first grade for and has just retired from a very successful international business career leaving him with time to devote to the role. Henderson and Gillam also have excellent cricket and business pedigrees.

Varghese was a public servant for over three decades who served as secretary of DFAT and delivered a strategic paper for the Abbott government in 2018 setting out the blueprint to transform Australia’s economic relationship with India.

Justin Langer’s future as Australian cricket coach is hanging by a thread after a fallout over the length of his new deal.

News Corp disclosed last Friday the key to Langer getting an extension to his four-year deal which ends in June would be accepting a contract which was less than half as long.

But Fox Sports has revealed the coach has taken umbrage at the suggestion of a shorter term deal in a meeting with CA chief executive Nick Hockley and high performance manager Ben Oliver last Friday.

It has also been reported Langer was angry at the suggestion he should have to reapply for his job.

The timing of the suggested job proposal could not have been more ironic given only hours later Langer was inducted into Cricket Australia’s Hall of Fame and lauded for his achievements as Australian coach as well as a player.

The Cricket Australia board is reported to be in a state of uncertainty over Langer’s reappointment.

On one hand it has Langer’s former teammates Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist calling for him to get a new deal on the grounds that he won the World T20 and Ashes series and has done all that was asked of him.

But the Board is also aware that tension remains in the group following the fallout between Langer and the players last year when they felt he was too volatile for their best interests.

The wounds have been bandaged and kept well away from public view but they are yet to fully heal.

Langer, by design, has kept a low profile this summer and has been heard of far less than in previous seasons.

After crisis talks with players last year it was decided he should delegate more to his assistant coaches and he has done that with considerable success.

His critics, perhaps harshly, have suggested his absence from the front line has been a key to the success.

Pat Cummins is looming as a key voice in discussions for this is the biggest call of his captaincy career.

While technically it is the CA’s board decision they will listen closely to the captain’s call and if Cummins does not support Langer his goose may be cooked.

While Langer may be aggrieved at a shorter term deal Australia does have a packed program in which the next 18 months will squeeze in just about every contest it cares deeply about – Test series against England and India plus a World T 20 others Test rubbers against Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

If Langer is not reappointed Trevor Bayliss, the experienced former NSW batsman and England coach, heads a small field of options.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...l/news-story/6d2780b79bcd5e976e86c215fd66cd1c

 

[MenInG]

Pat Cummins fails to endorse Langer to continue as coach

Test captain Pat Cummins has once again failed to endorse Justin Langer continuing as coach, claiming it was not a decision for the players.

Cummins said he had enjoyed working with Langer, but it was “fair” that the coach went through an “evaluation process” given the players are constantly evaluated on performance.

Langer faces a Cricket Australia board meeting on Friday to consider his future.

“It’s in Cricket Australia’s hands,” Cummins said at his local club ground, Penrith, where he was launching a solar power initiative.

He was reluctant to talk about the coach’s future saying the “speculation was not healthy” and he did not want to add to it.

“JL’s been doing a fantastic job, he’s been there for four years, his contract is obviously up soon, they’re just going through an evaluation process at the moment, which I think is fair, the right thing to do.

“We all get evaluated all the time as cricketers. It’s part of a high-performance environment. That process is happening, it’s a decision for Cricket Australia and we just have to wait.

“That’s Cricket Australia’s job, it’s not my job. I’ve really loved my time working with JL.

“There’s been a process, I’ve been part of that, a lot of other players have been part of that. It’s just like when we get evaluated.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...ger-to-continue-as-coach-20220203-p59thp.html



“I’ve got huge respect for JL, I’ve really liked working with him, but it’s not my call.”

 

[Gilly]

Pat Cummins fails to endorse Langer to continue as coach

Test captain Pat Cummins has once again failed to endorse Justin Langer continuing as coach, claiming it was not a decision for the players.

Cummins said he had enjoyed working with Langer, but it was “fair” that the coach went through an “evaluation process” given the players are constantly evaluated on performance.

Langer faces a Cricket Australia board meeting on Friday to consider his future.

“It’s in Cricket Australia’s hands,” Cummins said at his local club ground, Penrith, where he was launching a solar power initiative.

He was reluctant to talk about the coach’s future saying the “speculation was not healthy” and he did not want to add to it.

“JL’s been doing a fantastic job, he’s been there for four years, his contract is obviously up soon, they’re just going through an evaluation process at the moment, which I think is fair, the right thing to do.

“We all get evaluated all the time as cricketers. It’s part of a high-performance environment. That process is happening, it’s a decision for Cricket Australia and we just have to wait.

“That’s Cricket Australia’s job, it’s not my job. I’ve really loved my time working with JL.

“There’s been a process, I’ve been part of that, a lot of other players have been part of that. It’s just like when we get evaluated.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...ger-to-continue-as-coach-20220203-p59thp.html


“I’ve got huge respect for JL, I’ve really liked working with him, but it’s not my call.”

Journo's making a story up thats not there.

 

[wrongun]

Journo's making a story up thats not there.

It's a bit warmer than Cummins has been in previous interviews- none of which he has backed Langer in like you'd expect a happy captain to do.

And if you pay attention to the grammar, his praise is all in the past tense- as in, thanks JL, but seeya later.

 

[volcyz]

Bet the players cant wait to see the back of JL

 

[Gilly]

It's a bit warmer than Cummins has been in previous interviews- none of which he has backed Langer in like you'd expect a happy captain to do.

And if you pay attention to the grammar, his praise is all in the past tense- as in, thanks JL, but seeya later.

Cummins is not stupid, if he endorses Langer and a different coach gets the job then he is at odds with the new coach straight away.

As Cummins has stated its not his job to pick the new coach and the journalists know this but keep asking him who the coach should be.

Just like they made up stories about Langer losing it at the interview the journalists are trying to make a story.

 

[MenInG]

Todd Greenberg - the Australian Cricketers’ Association boss - believed the current crop of players deserve to have a seat at the table regarding Justin Langer’s tenure, but says ultimately they will not decide his future.

His comments come, as News Corp revealed Langer knocked back a six-figure bonus because it went against his moral compass.

After Cricket Australia was forced to cut 40 staff during a $40 million hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, Langer rejected bonuses he was entitled to because he did not think it was right to fill his boots as others lost their jobs.

The admirable stance comes with the former Test opener’s future as national coach on the line.

Cricket Australia’s board will meet on Friday and aside from working out who their next chair is, Langer’s future is the hottest subject in Australian sport.

While England coach Chris Silverwood has yet to receive his marching orders despite the Poms’ 4-0 Ashes defeat, Langer is under the gun despite wanting to continue as Australian coach.

For more than a year there have been staggering reports about unrest in the Australian camp, with Langer’s volatile personality proving unbearable for the playing group.

Off the back of last summer’s 2-1 series loss to India, as well as white ball defeats to the West Indies and Bangladesh, crisis meetings were held in August after a player revolt against Langer.

While Langer survived and had the backing of former chair Earl Eddings, the former pugnacious opener, who never took a backwards step as a player, was forced to take a back seat and delegate more to continue.

A successful T20 World Cup campaign and home Ashes series was also highlighted by CA, with Langer backed to serve out his four-year tenure, worth an estimated $900,000 per-year, as coach.

Since those meetings, Australia have lost just one official match and won their maiden T20 World Cup trophy and retained the Ashes.

But despite the side returning to winning ways, it is considered that the damage is done and the players feel a fresh start will be the way to continue their recent momentum. It is believed assistant Andrew McDonald is the man favoured by the playing group, while former World Cup-winning England coach and Penrith great Trevor has also been mentioned as another possible candidate.

Curiously not one current Australian player has come out publicly to support Langer continuing despite a wave of former players going into bat for Langer.

After initially wanting to keep well clear of the subject, Cummins later said the players “absolutely love JL”.

“That’s above my pay grade. We’ll wait and see, it’d be nice to have clarity for everyone,” Cummins said. “But he’s been doing a fantastic job, we absolutely love JL.

For many, “player power” has become too much in the modern age.

Greenberg, however, refuted that suggestion.

“I don’t subscribe to the theme of player power - I haven’t seen that and I certainly don’t feel that in cricket,” Greenberg told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

“The players should have a view, and they should be able to provide honest and open feedback. But ultimately we also understand our place. It’s not our decision to make, we’re just part of a bigger set of stakeholders.

As revealed by Fox Cricket’s Tom Morris, Langer was left far from impressed from a meeting with CEO Nick Hockley and high performance manager Ben Oliver last Friday.

Yet, Greenberg believe players quite rightly should provide input into who should coach the national side, but said ultimately the decision rested with the CA board.

“I know they’ve spoken to a number of our players, which is good, because players should have a view,” Greenberg told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

“But ultimately the players don’t make the sole decision on these things. They’re able to provide some feedback and ultimately these are decisions for the CA board.

“One thing you can’t dispute about Justin is he’s a legend of Australian cricket, having played 100 Test matches. He’s done an extremely good job over the last four years as coach, and in the last 12 months has had unbelievably strong success. He’s got a very strong resume. The question that will be on CA’s board is which direction they want to go to next.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...s/news-story/be16cd00bb9983a26531f657f71f5376

 

[wrongun]

Cummins is not stupid, if he endorses Langer and a different coach gets the job then he is at odds with the new coach straight away.

As Cummins has stated its not his job to pick the new coach and the journalists know this but keep asking him who the coach should be.

Just like they made up stories about Langer losing it at the interview the journalists are trying to make a story.

Ahem.

Past tense.

We all saw it coming except company man Gilly. Says a lot about your understanding of human interactions.

 

[James]

Cummins is not stupid, if he endorses Langer and a different coach gets the job then he is at odds with the new coach straight away.

As Cummins has stated its not his job to pick the new coach and the journalists know this but keep asking him who the coach should be.

Just like they made up stories about Langer losing it at the interview the journalists are trying to make a story.

Your posts on this subject recently have had a theme of denial running through them IMO.

Langer is now gone and it was not difficult to see that coming.

 

[MenInG]

 

[wrongun]

The knock on Langer as a coach was that he was too intense, couldn't be spoken too, thought he ran the whole show- when in Oz cricket the captain is supposed to be that guy...

Since declining to continue his contract offered (because it was so short it was insulting to his self assumed grand stature), he's waged a full on media war non stop for months, given 100 flip flopping interviews veering between seething rage and claiming everything is fine and all the players actually love him- literally within the same week at times...

Was there ever an Oz coach who thought it was all about himself to this degree, even long after he'd been shuffled out the door? Can you kind of understand now why the players didn't want to tour with this guy 8 months a year? It's exhausting even from here.

JL- just shut up and try to retain some sort of dignity. No one has a god given right to the Oz team. If you are lucky, you get stewardship for a time. But the team moves on. No one gets to own it. Everyone is replaced. Always. Forever.

Try to understand that.

 

[wrongun]

Journo's making a story up thats not there.

One of the great wrong calls in history.

 

[James]

One of the great wrong calls in history.

He specialises in those.

 

[wrongun]

He specialises in those.

 

[Markhor]

The knock on Langer as a coach was that he was too intense, couldn't be spoken too, thought he ran the whole show- when in Oz cricket the captain is supposed to be that guy...

Since declining to continue his contract offered (because it was so short it was insulting to his self assumed grand stature), he's waged a full on media war non stop for months, given 100 flip flopping interviews veering between seething rage and claiming everything is fine and all the players actually love him- literally within the same week at times...

Was there ever an Oz coach who thought it was all about himself to this degree, even long after he'd been shuffled out the door? Can you kind of understand now why the players didn't want to tour with this guy 8 months a year? It's exhausting even from here.

JL- just shut up and try to retain some sort of dignity. No one has a god given right to the Oz team. If you are lucky, you get stewardship for a time. But the team moves on. No one gets to own it. Everyone is replaced. Always. Forever.

Try to understand that.

Langer thinks he's actually a quiet, introverted guy. I'd hate to see him extroverted

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...rst-inflames-player-feud-20221123-p5c0og.html

“I’m very self-aware,” Langer told the BackChat Sports Show. “My greatest weakness without question is that I hate losing. I did as a player, I did as a coach. It’s different in footy. And this happened when I coached Western Australia as well. When we lose I go quiet because I’m actually very introverted. I’m a thinker, I’m curious, I wonder how we can get better, so I go very quiet.

“I don’t rant and rave and get angry, but I go very quiet. And then people, when I go quiet, because I’m meant to be the tough guy, even though I’ve got four beautiful kids, I love them, I love my garden, I love meditating, I’m the tough guy. That’s perception, he’s the martial artist and all that sort of ****. So when I go quiet people go ‘oh he’s not approachable’ and I go ‘yeah ok, that’s just after the game, give me 24 hours to absorb it all and work out how we can get better.’

“Yeah I’m quiet, I’m not a ranter and raver, I don’t get angry, or very rarely get angry. That’s not my style. But I go quiet and I know that, that’s my weakness. And the players go ‘oh yeah he’s angry, he’s intense’, I’m just thinking. Then I’ll go away and meditate the next day and then I’m up and back into it. That’s my weakness. And it’s very hard to change your personality.”

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

He’s someone who’d actually be a very good coach for a young, talented but inexperienced Asian team. For e.g. he would have been perfect to take over from Mickey Arthur, at that stage of Pakistan’s development where Babar was a young captain.

I actually think could do ok with the West Indies.

 

[MenInG]

Australia captain Pat Cummins insists there are “no cowards” in the Test team and that his players have not been distracted by former head coach Justin Langer’s inflammatory comments.

Langer reopened old wounds over his Cricket Australia resignation in an interview with BackChat Podcast, released last week, lashing out at unnamed "cowards" in the team who complained in the media about his intense coaching style last year.

Australian media reported that the interview had ignited a feud with the team, although Langer labelled the reports as "rubbish" and denied rumours of a rift with Cummins and the team.

"There's no cowards in an Australian cricket team, not ever," Cummins told reporters ahead of their two-Test series against West Indies, which begins in Perth on Wednesday.

"I think it's disappointing sometimes the focus gets drawn to off-field issues but it hasn't really affected our team. I think there's no ill will to what he was trying to do and he clarified (his comments) afterwards.

"I think he had a think about it and clarified it, so thank him for that. But we're really proud of the last 12 months, how we've fronted up, the way we've played, the way we've conducted ourselves. Players can certainly hold their heads high."

Australia's Pat Cummins celebrates taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka during the day one of their first test cricket match in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Twenty20 World Cup title last year and a thumping victory in the Ashes, with the 52-year-old also responding to media reports of discontent in the dressing room during his time as coach.

"Everyone was being nice to my face, but I was reading about this stuff and half of it, I swear to God and on my kids' lives, I could not believe that is what was making the papers," Langer said in the podcast.

"A lot of journalists use the word 'source'. I would say, change that word to 'coward'. Because what do you mean 'a source says'? They've either got an axe to grind with someone and they won't come and say it to your face, or they're just leaking stuff for their own agenda. I hate that."

Langer said he had lost the support of some players, staff and the Cricket Australia board, although the governing body CEO Nick Hockley spoke out to "correct inaccuracies" in Langer's comments.

"Regular formal and informal opportunities to provide and receive feedback took place throughout his tenure, which is consistent with a high-performance environment," Hockley said.

"Following a comprehensive process, Justin was offered a short-term contract extension, which he rejected. I am disappointed by Justin's comments unfairly criticising some of our players. The playing group are aware they have my full support."

SKY

 

[MenInG]

WARNING - bad language

Langer shouts at Australian players ... after Babar Azam performs well against Australia

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 100%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/pnztjo" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[Shafi]

He will not last not even a day. Our players have very big ego to hear the truth.

 

[Saj]

He'd have our players in tears and there would be a mutiny with players running to the PCB and to social media!