Justin Langer’s close mate and former batting partner Matthew Hayden has slammed senior players for treating the Australian coach with disrespect.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley released a statement in support of Langer on Wednesday, but The Australian reported he then contacted senior players Tim Paine, Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins shortly after to discuss reported tensions between Langer and the playing group.
“A lot of the content coming out about this is downright disrespectful to a bloke that’s played over 100 Test matches,” Hayden told SEN radio.
“Even this facetious discussion amongst senior players last night that obviously Pete Lalor (The Australian’s chief cricket reporter) was onto about deciding Justin Langer’s future. Umm, hello! what about meeting about the fact you’re No. 3 in Test cricket and No. 3 in ODI rankings, and No. 6 in T20 rankings?
(Photo by Getty Images)
“Waste more energy and time thinking about that than discussing a bloke who’s a legend of the game and so passionate about Australian cricket and culture.
“It reeks of the lyric, ‘sixth months in a leaky boat’. So many holes are now coming out.”
Hayden said it appeared Langer was not receiving enough support from the Cricket Australia hierarchy.
“Leave him alone. Let him do his job and for god’s sake listen to what he is saying,” Hayden said.
“I’m telling you, if you don’t listen to him, you’re going to have the same results and you’re going to have to listen to someone else that is basically going to say the same thing until you get the message.”
Hayden said he saw a breakdown in the culture of the Australian cricket team first put in place by Allan Border in the 1980s.
“I personally think there’s a lack of accountability and a lack of control in terms of options for players and where it is that their futures lie,” he said.
“Now players have got such lofty expectations to focus solely on what they have to do.”
Langer can’t find a way out of the headlines, which keep coming.
On Friday the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him as confirming that he received $40,000 for his role in the Amazon Prime documentary The Test, which was half of what every player received – even those who were barely seen on screen.
“It’s been speculated for months that payment for the documentary has been a friction point between Langer and the playing group,” wrote Andrew Webster.
“It seems it was more of an issue for Langer, who was frustrated about his payday, something he confirmed on Thursday afternoon.”
The Herald quoted Langer as textng the response: “You are absolutely correct in what you heard, and if I look back at that moment in time and with hindsight I should have reacted differently.”
Langer did receive some public backing from Paine on SEN.
“There’s no hiding from it – it’s been a tough week,” Paine told SEN Hobart.
“Certainly tougher for Justin Langer than anyone else (associated with the team).
“It’s been a bit of a shame the last week that a lot of the failings around Australian cricket have been pinned on JL. That’s certainly not the case. We haven’t lived up to our own standards on the field.”
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Hey Micko. "Old Mate" has become a bit of a sledge, which I'm sure Haydos would appreciate as an old sledger.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
The problem many people are having in this whole drama are the multiple leaks to the media by the players about Langer. It sounds disloyal, conniving and even un-Australian until….you go back 2 years to when CA approved of the documentary on Amazon. That was great viewing but it opened the door of the dressing room to let the cameras in and once you do that, the door will never be properly shut again. All this talk about Border/ Waugh/ Simpson, etc….even in this day and age, I find it hard to believe that they would have allowed something like this to happen.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Makes you wonder how it would have been had this pandemic crisis occurred late in the Bob Simpson coaching era.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Actually, Gilly, Hayden and JL all had their peak great years in the first of the two decades gone so far of this current century.
Ian
Roar Rookie
It really is time everyone involved in this juvenile affair just simply shut up and get on with their jobs.No one is coming out of this with any credit.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Sounds like a bunch of sooks don't like a passionate man with the clipboard. Its disgraceful.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I don't get it. Is "old mate" controversial for some reason?
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Well they are both 50 years old or something, which means they have more experience of last century than this - dunno why anyone would contact them for comment on the modern game. Quite bizarre really - sheeesh! One of them lives on a farm way out in the bush where they don't even have Facebook! ... or Uber. ... and they are both left handers, really! :unhappy:
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Yeah, cause Matt Hayden has never sold out to make a quick buck... That fat commentating contract with the BCCI - where he has to fawn constantly - isn't at all an example of destroying one's own principles.
Paul
Roar Guru
exactly. If they really want to help, they should quietly get in Hockley's ear and offer to mediate if there are still outstanding issues. Langer could have 50blokes say whay a good guy he is etc, but that's not going to stop players having problems with him
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I am unsurprised and delighted that Matthew Hayden has spoken so clearly at these donkeys; and made his point elsewhere about the discipline and focus demanded by Bob Simpson and Allan Border. The current lot have likely never heard of them. They will be unaware that, post cricket, these blokes could not shake off their reputations and credibility – followed them around for decades – allowed them to enjoy personal and commercial success for life. Today’s players will not experience anything like it, they will leave cricket with zero integrity. Watson and Lara Single set the standard for them a decade ago. The big money is their most prized applause. I am enjoying the many reactions in the media and from fans "Oh look, now Langer is making them cry! What a horrible, cruel fellow."
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
"Old Mate". Good one eds! And the Brown..N.... It's ok. I'll see myself out.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Langer's mates (Gilly, Hayden) are not helping him here, just stoking the fire.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
What does the fact that Langer played 100 tests have to do with anything? Being a legend of the game and passionate does not make you a good coach or man manager. To be fair we are only seeing one side of the story in the press for the most part, but the focus should be on whether Langer is the best man for the job, not whether he was a great opening batsman 15+ years ago. As for the idea that the Australian cricketing culture forged in the 1980s must be protected at all costs - what nonsense.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
CA have already backed him in. They said "full and wholehearted support". Translation: HR have already excluded him from this month's payrun.
RAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Have to agree with Gilly here, Cricket Australia need to back Langer fully or change him. The "senior" players don't come out of this glowingly either. CA needs to address the mediocrity creeping in the players and the system. That should be the focus. Can't imagine any other national team "coach" making a difference.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Maybe Shipperd should replace Langer.
Paul
Roar Guru
Other than sticking up for a mate, what does Hayden hope to achieve. What ever issues are still not resolved need to be fixed - NOW!! No amount of side show alley yapping from Hayden, Hockley or anyone else will resolve this. If the issues can't be sorted out, get rid of Langer, regardless whether he's done a good job in the past. All this c**p is deflecting from what Australia should be focussing on, doing well in cricket over the next 5 - 6 months.
Paul
Roar Guru
That would achieve nothing Arnab because the issue(s) are still there, regardless who CA brings in.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Australia needs Shipperd even as a consultant to give langer some breathing space. Players will learn so much off him and we may see Langer not being grumpy every two seconds