UPDATE: CA rejects report that Langer had 'meltdown' in 'heated' meeting over coaching future

Cricket Australia has taken the extraordinary step of issuing a statement to deny reports that Justin Langer had a meltdown in a fiery meeting with two Cricket Australia bosses and that the Ashes-winning coach was upset at being told he might need to re-apply or accept a short term contract.

Fox Sports and the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday both reported Langer was on shaky ground after he met with CEO Nick Hockley and head of high performance Ben Oliver because he was unhappy with the possibility of not having his contract renewed when it expires in June.

However, CA issued a statement claiming there were “a number of inaccuracies” in the first story, published by Fox.

“While we do not comment on confidential conversations, we felt on this occasion it was important to correct the record.

“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.

“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.”

Hockley and Oliver were meeting with Langer as part of their preparation to take a submission to the board around Langer’s future.

“Justin Langer has put his already tenuous position as national cricket coach in further jeopardy after melting down in a meeting with Cricket Australia,” wrote Malcolm Conn a former Cricket Australia employee and team media manager and now cricket writer in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday night.

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

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

As with others who have spoken with inside knowledge of the mood within the team, Conn was the subject of criticism, which he countered on Tuesday.

Earlier Fox Sports reported details from the meeting last Friday between Langer, CA CEO Nick Hockley and head of high performance Ben Oliver. There were said to be no others in the meeting, which begs the question of which party was responsible for the leaks.

Fox Sports reported that Langer would refuse any short-term deal and would not tour Pakistan in March if his contract was not renewed.

He will already stand aside for the T20 series against Sri Lanka in February.

“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,” commented the Herald.

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor, who was also a former Cricket Australia board member until the end of 2018, on Monday told 2GB Radio’s Wide World of Sports that he thought the players or CA must be disgruntled with Langer’s style, otherwise they would have publicly endorsed him.

“I suspect with Justin Langer that when he was given the job in 2018 on the back of what happened in Cape Town, it was seen at that time as, ‘OK, you’re the guy we need for now to bring back discipline into the side’,” Taylor said.

“And 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.”

When asked if Langer had to reapply for the job, what would that mean for his tenure, Taylor said: “I don’t understand that, if that is the case. He had an issue … where his coaching style was criticised by the current players – and he’s seemed to have sorted that out.

“I think the Australian cricket authorities would know the sort of coach they’re getting from Justin Langer. It’s an evolving coach … Obviously he’s getting better at it and the side is responding to it. So they know what they’re going to get from Langer.”

While Langer’s ex-teammates have all thrown their support behind him continuing in the wake of the T20 World Cup triumph and Ashes cakewalk, the support has been more muted within the current playing ranks.

Much has been made of Pat Cummins’ guarded responses on the issue. As Fox Sports noted, Cummins shares a manager – Neil Maxwell – with Trevor Bayliss, who has been raised as a leading candidate to replace Langer.

“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,” wrote the Herald.

“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.

“Multiple sources around the squad claim that Langer was moved aside and had little input.

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

Fox Sports said the meeting was “heated” and added: “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.”

Fox Sports reported 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. He is said to want another long term deal.

England, after being vanquished 4-0 in the Ashes by Australia, are conducting a review into their set-up and the future of head coach Chris Silverwood, batting coach Graham Thorpe and team director Ashley Giles are under the microscope.

Langer’s name has been mentioned as a potential coach for England if Silverwood is sacked.

Former captain Andrew Strauss is heading up a five-member panel which will recommend changes in the wake of the team’s Ashes debacle in which they managed to avoid a 5-0 whitewash by one wicket in the rain-reduced fourth Test at the SCG.