Ashton Agar would be “absolutely shattered” if subjected to the sort of public critique directed at Justin Langer, adding he is full of respect for Australia’s coach and his unwavering values.
Player unease about Langer and his approach ignited intense speculation about the future of the former Test opener, who is contracted until mid-2022.
Langer’s posting of a motivational message on LinkedIn made headlines this week but the issue hit its crescendo in August, when Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley publicly backed Langer to remain coach for the Twenty20 World Cup and Ashes.
Hockley, CA chairman Earl Eddings and on-field leaders Tim Paine, Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins even met to discuss “the elephant in the room”.
Langer and Australia’s T20 World Cup squad will assemble later this week ahead of their tournament-opener against South Africa on October 23.
Agar, a long-time mentee of Langer at both domestic and international level, said he and teammates know the head coach is listening to feedback and will do “whatever he can to suit the needs of the team”.
“You can’t help but respect that and we’ll back him in 100 per cent at this tournament and going forward,” Agar told reporters from the UAE.
“He’s got strong values and morals as a person and he sticks to them, unwaveringly. Knowing him over 10 years, not a lot has changed.
“I respect him a lot for that.
“We just have to have a bit of understanding around how horrible that experience (in recent months) would have been and respect someone coming out of that and still doing their best.”
Langer said he felt like “Superman” earlier this year, having responded to player feedback and tried to clear the air prior to a T20 tour of the Caribbean.
But Australia, minus Pat Cummins and several rested stars, suffered lopsided T20 series losses to West Indies and Bangladesh with the heat on Langer most intense while stuck in an Adelaide hotel room for a fortnight.
“All the criticism and everything that he’s copped … to be dragged through the media while you’re in quarantine, all of these different things,” Agar said.
“If that happened to you or I, we would be absolutely shattered.
“But speaking to him recently, he’s doing really well.”
Selectors included legspinners Adam Zampa and Mitchell Swepson alongside Agar in their World Cup squad.
Agar is upbeat the trio, having played together in Bangladesh, could be squeezed into the same XI during the upcoming tournament.
“It’s all dependent on the surfaces that we get,” Agar said.
“We’ve seen in the IPL now that the wickets are getting a little bit tired, we’ll probably get some fresh wickets for the World Cup.
“But it wouldn’t be really exciting.”
Ian
Roar Rookie
That's what I thought. It looks from afar that Mr Langer has seen his future, ie to lighten up and to shut up and has decided that getting the sack would be best the way to go out. He can then go and do plenty of emotional self pitying interviews about how ' his boy's' turned on him when all he wanted them to do was say 'how high?' when he ordered them to jump.
Nyang
Roar Rookie
Matthew Wade is one that should just shut it. He has given interviews stating that he will be playing for the entire tournament and Inglis will not. This despite admitting that he has not spoken to Langer, Finch or George the selector. He sees himself playing the same role as Hussey did in previous world cups. Basing this on his Bangladesh performance. The arrogance is astounding not to mention hardly a welcome to the squad that a senior player should be giving to a newcomer.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Only 38 Board positions to go until he's truly out. It's a lucrative job, being a full time director.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Slow news day..
Ian
Roar Rookie
The problem is that if Langer can't keep his mouth shut now, what's he going to be like if 'his boy's' have a bit of success over the next few months. He'll be here, there and everywhere telling us how he turned it all around,what idiots his critics are and how he sorted 'his boy's' out. It'll be unbearable.
Marty
Roar Rookie
And then you would end up with headlines like ‘Agar refuses to back Langer as Coach!’, or ‘Crisis - CA gags players! What are they trying to hide?’. Unfortunately the worst thing you can do is refuse to answer questions from a journalist these days because they will just fill in the gaps themselves, and do it in the most sensationalist way possible.
Paul
Roar Guru
you'll be happy to know Eddings has gone.
Paul
Roar Guru
He has for the past few months.
Clear as mud
Guest
Langer... surely a provocation. Looking to get sacked? Great stuff from the elite one before a difficult tournament Gi Superman! And keep going....
Jero
Roar Rookie
Maybe the coach is the cricketer who most needs to keep his trap shut, or give the keyboard a rest, in this instance.
Paul
Roar Guru
When will cricketers learn to shut up and say nothing? This story is likely from a writer with zero knowledge of the sport, (hence the lack of a byline), who's dredged up incidents that happened 3 months ago, then hunted around till he found a first-class cricketer willing to open his yap. This should be a dead story but foolish interviews like this keep it alive. I've no idea why players think they need to provide sound bites, but they need to stop doing that now and if they can't, they get fined. All the Board has to do is provide some direction on issues that can and can;t be discussed,
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
Eddings, paine and finch discussing your future.. what a trio of losers. they should be discussing themselves. (I will ignore cummins presence!)