Usman Khawaja says it appears that members of Justin Langer’s Australian team are “stabbing him in the back.”
The Queensland captain has spoken out on his own Youtube channel about the crisis engulfing Langer, with whom he famously clashed back in 2019 when he was last in the national team, as documented on The Test documentary on Amazon.
Langer, a notoriously prickly character, has seen his relationship with his players questioned amidst a series of leaks.
“The issue is there is something going on in the Australian team between the players and Justin Langer,” Khawaja said.
“Unfortunately, he was involved in a pretty bad West Indies, Bangladesh tour, which wasn’t entirely his fault because the majority of the team wasn’t even there. I don’t think it’s fair to judge him on the last two series.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
“How do you think JL feels? 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 a really bad look and it’s something the group needs to sort out ASAP.”
Khawaja also offered an insight into Langer, a fiercely determined opening batsman who became national coach in 2018 in the wake of the ball tampering scandal and given a four year contract through to May next year.
“He loves Australian cricket, wants the best for everyone,” Khawaja said.
“He wants to succeed, he’s driven by winning, he’s driven by winning the right way, and all the things he brought into the Australian team after ‘Sandpapergate’ were focused on these things.
“The one thing that keeps coming up about him are his emotions. Yes, the man wears his heart on his sleeve, he can be very emotional.
“It’s probably his one downside. His greatest weakness is probably his emotions because he rides the high and he rides the low, but that’s only because he’s passionate.
“Unfortunately that’s probably the one thing that’s letting him down the most but it comes from a very good place. And he knows it, he knows he needs to improve. He’s said it in the media, I’ve chatted to him. He’s trying to improve on it.
“International cricket is a tough place. Having your emotions tested from time to time, that’s just going to happen.”
Khawaja, 34, said Langer was not alone in being responsible for Australia’s recent decline.
“The guys aren’t performing, the players have to take ownership at some stage,” Khawaja said.
“He deserves the opportunity to coach Australia in the T20 World Cup, he deserves the opportunity to coach Australia in the Ashes.
“If after all that, things are still not going well, if things aren’t gelling, if all the players are back and something is still up and going wrong, that is when you look at things and think ‘okay, maybe do we need to change something’.”
Khawaja was shown on The Test doco standing up to Langer and telling the coach players were “walking on eggshells” around him, but he insisted their relationship was good.
“People think I got dropped because I spoke up to him, stood up to him and all these other things,” said Khawaja.
“It’s actually quite the opposite. I feel like I became closer with him. I feel like he gained my respect and I gained his respect because we had some really open and honest conversations together.
“I still talk to him, I still text him here and there.
“So let’s just stop it right there. There were two people who dropped me for the Ashes, Trevor Hohns and JL , so it wasn’t just JL.
“Do I believe I should have been there the last couple of years, do I think I was in the best top six batsmen? In my heart, yes I do believe that. But I don’t select the teams, so for me it’s water off a duck’s back.”
Matt from Armidale
Guest
There’s a pandemic on and players are spending whole tours locked inside a bubble. I doubt being trapped in a place run by someone who is at the very least „intense“ and at worse a bit of a psychopath would help anyone play elite sport to their potential.
Clear as mud
Guest
So the SMh story today is pretty compelling. The players have been trying to get Langer's issues addressed for almost 3 years now, with all constructive approaches falling on deaf ears, including with Langer. Him coming out and saying "what's everyone going on about, I know nothing" looks like the straw that broke the player's back. so rather than being backstabbers, they are people who have raised legitimate complaints and have been totally ignored by their employer
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
After reading all the posts here, and being impressed with some of the thoughtful reasoned insights, I have come to the conclusion that: 1. the players should be running the entire show; 2. them dressing up in green and gold now and then and pretending their commercial interests have something to do with being Australian and proud of it is fabulously amusing; 3. Justin Langer could not even afford an Eastern Suburbs ocean view - sheeesh!; and 4. my indifference to the game I used love makes good sense.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Typical millennial and gen z players.
Ducky
Roar Rookie
Ok let’s have the names, I expect they won’t be a surprise
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Faf might have dropped the towel! :shocked:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Had Warner smashed de Kock in the stairwell there would've been no sandpaper. Warner would've been sidelined for 5 or 6 tests. It would've blown over. Warner comes back a lot more contrite. Warner works at the subterranean level.
Paul
Roar Guru
Fair points, but the particular problem that seems to have happened in the cricket is an old-fashioned personality clash between the coach and one or more players. From what I've read, a review was conducted which identified issues and on at least two occasions before last week, Langer and presumably Cricket Australia not only attempted to sort out the issues, but thought they'd done so. Then the same problems come roaring back to life in the media. If a manager has fanned the flames of this issue, thinking they're helping their client, they're sadly mistaken. CA made it clear Langer was coach and I think the unspoken message was, if you don't like it, don't get too attached to a position in any Australian team.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It's only his hair.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
What I meant, in case there was a misunderstanding, was that I don’t disagree that a coach should do those things. Only, I am uncompromising in my view that the coach should have no official vote at the selection table, nor should his voice carry any particular weight with CA about who the next captain should be.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Which is not the characteristic of a coach who’s going to spend very long in a role. And COVID-related restrictions have almost certainly made his personality grate much quicker than it otherwise would have. I hope CA are looking around at options now.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
As an opponent of Australia Cricket I'm more than happy to see Smith sidelined.. It's a conversation that's been rehashed here time and again. But Langer is not the issue.. You want to regain nr 1 team spot.. Steve Smith as captain is a great start.. Then.. Stop being so polite and nice on the field.. Its unnatural.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Player managers are business first,team harmony second, Look at the Wildcats,bought by a player manager group. We'll see whether 35 consecutive years of finals comes to a screeching halt. The more your player earns,the more you make. 4% on salaries, up to 20% on endorsements. Will a change in coaches give your player more games and therefore more money?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Past its used by date, embarrassing and unlikely to pull a winner on the night, you mean?
Micko
Roar Rookie
That mullet always reminds me of the 2005 Ashes. :sick:
Jeff
Roar Rookie
The daring f-u-all, don't care if I'm 10 years-late-on-the-scene mullet statement, would make Dizzy an average everyday-man's coach perhaps? :laughing:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
aspirations that should have read
Micko
Roar Rookie
Why I always thought Dizzy would be a better coach. Has that naturally affable nature that the modern generations will warm to. The intense angry ranters aren't the way to go anymore...particularly when in such consistent close proximity in bubble life!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Yes, JL is from what I've gleaned can be stubborn.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I do too. I just don't think any committed coach wouldn't have his say. CA knew he was intense so they knew what they were getting.