Australia captain Pat Cummins has broken his silence following Justin Langer’s resignation, saying there was never any issue with the coach’s “intensity” but the side needed a “more collaborative” approach.
At a Wednesday press conference, Cummins told reporters that the team and support staff appreciated the ex-coach’s style but that they were looking to adopt a "calmer" approach.
He said: “I think the players benefit from a more collaborative approach. A big theme this summer was to be more calm, more composed. That’s been the feedback from the players, staff and Cricket Australia that that’s the direction we want to take the team.”
Cummins praised Langer for driving high standards, but said CA’s decision to accept Langer's resignation did not come as a “big surprise” to him after two years of evaluation.
In a statement issued an hour before he was due to address reporters on Langer’s exit, Cummins said he was “sticking up for my mates”.
The 28-year-old said: “There has been much public comment since Justin Langer’s resignation as the coach of the Australian cricket team. For good reason, I haven’t made public comment before today.
“To speak about a decision, which was yet to be made and which is for Cricket Australia to make, would have put Cricket Australia and the team in an impossible position.
“I’d never do that. I believe in respecting the sanctity of the change room and proper process.
“Now that a decision has been made by Justin to resign and given his own public comments and others by Cricket Australia, I can provide some clarity.
“Justin has acknowledged that his style was intense. And it was. He has apologised to players and staff for his intensity. I think the apology was unnecessary. Because the players were OK with JL’s intensity.
“It came from a good place – his fierce love of Australia and the baggy green – something which has served Australian cricket well for three decades.”
Ashes batting and bowling averages
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ASHES 2021/22 - BATTING: 15) Chris Woakes (England) 146 runs from six innings at average of 24.33. AFP -
14) Mitchell Starc (Australia) 155 runs from seven innings at average of 38.75. EPA -
13) Zac Crawley (England) 166 runs from six innings at an average of 27.67. EPA -
12) Marcus Harris (Australia) 179 runs from seven innings at an average of 29.83. Getty -
11) Alex Carey (Australia) 183 runs from nine innings at an average of 20.33. PA -
10) Jonny Bairstow (England) 194 runs from four innings at an average of 48.50. EPA -
9) Cameron Green (Australia) 228 runs from eight innings at an average of 32.57. AP -
8) Ben Stokes (England) 236 runs from 10 innings at an average of 23.60. Reuters -
7) Dawid Malan (England) 244 runs from 10 innings at an average of 24.40. AP -
6) Steve Smith (Australia) 244 runs from eight innings at an average of 30.50. PA -
5) Usman Khawaja (Australia) 255 runs from four innings at an average of 85. EPA -
4) David Warner (Australia) 273 runs from eight innings at an average of 34.12. Getty -
3) Joe Root (England) 322 runs from 10 innings at an average of 32.20. EPA -
2) Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) 335 runs from nine innings at an average of 41.88. EPA -
1) Travis Head (Australia) 357 runs from six innings at an average of 59.50. AFP -
ASHES 2021/22 - BOWLING: 15) Josh Hazlewood (Australia) Three wickets at average of 24.67. Overs bowled: 27.0 Getty -
14) Ben Stokes (England) Four wickets at average of 71.50. Overs bowled: 63.3. AP -
13) Joe Root (England) Five wickets at average of 46.80. Overs bowled: 57.0 AP -
12) Jhye Richardson (Australia) Five wickets at average of 25. Overs bowled: 38.1. EPA -
11) Jack Leach (England) Six wickets at average of 53.50. Overs bowled: 73.5. EPA -
10) Chris Woakes (England) Six wickets at average of 55.33. Overs bowled: 88.4. AP -
9) James Anderson (England) Eight wickets at average of 23.38. Overs bowled: 104.0. Reuters -
8) Ollie Robinson (England) 11 wickets at an average of 25.55. Overs bowled: 106.2. Reuters -
7) Stuart Broad (England) 13 wickets at average of 26.31. Overs bowled: 118.4. Getty -
6) Cameron Green (Australia) 13 wickets at average of 15.77. Overs bowled: 80.4. Getty -
5) Nathan Lyon (Australia) 16 wickets at average of 23.45. Overs bowled: 163.1. AP -
4) Mark Wood (England) 17 wickets at average of 26.65. Overs bowled: 121.1. AFP -
3) Scott Boland (Australia) 18 wickets at an average of 9.56. Overs bowled: 81.1. AP -
2) Mitchell Starc (Australia) 19 wickets at average of 25.37. Overs bowled: 152.1. AP -
1) Pat Cummins (Australia) 21 wickets at average of 18.05. Overs bowled: 126.4. Getty
Cummins’s statement came after former Australian cricketers including Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden criticised CA over the way Langer was treated when the team had just won a the T20 World Cup in UAE and thrashed England to retain the Ashes.
Cummins said Langer’s “intensity was not the issue" before adding: “We also have a duty to our mates. Many former players have reached out to me and silently offered me their advice which is welcome.
“Some others have spoken in the media – which is also welcome and comes from a love of the game and their support of a mate.
“To all past players, I want to say this: Just as you have always stuck up for your mates, I’m sticking up for mine.”
Meanwhile, CA announced Australia’s three-match T20 series against New Zealand in March was cancelled “due to New Zealand’s border controls and quarantine requirements”.
