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Former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke has become the latest cricket great to offer a staunch defence of Justin Langer, blasting Cricket Australia’s treatment of the under-fire coach.
Bombshell reports this week have suggested Langer is hanging by a thread, with reports the Western Australian may need to reapply for his job, despite successfully overseeing the team’s 4-0 Ashes triumph and maiden T20 World Cup title.
Speaking on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast, Clarke, a former Test teammate of Langer before the latter’s retirement in January 2007, has called for a decision on the coach’s future to be made immediately, describing the current situation as ‘out of control’.
“This is not great for Lang, and it’s certainly not great for Cricket Australia,” Clarke said.
“So hopefully whatever is going to go down, goes down ASAP.
“If Lang is going to resign, do it ASAP. If Cricket Australia is going to make him reapply for his job and he doesn’t want to do that so he quits, do that ASAP. If they are going to offer him a contract, let’s get this done.
“It’s horrible at the moment… we’ve just had an awesome summer, the T20 World Cup, and now we’re reading this.”
No stranger to public conjecture during his time in the Australian team, Clarke isn’t impressed by the constant media leaks stemming from CA throughout the summer over Langer’s future as coach, hinting that he has ‘a fair idea’ where journalists are getting their information.
The players, too, earned his scorn, with Clarke suggesting the current group, whose disenchantment with Langer’s style of coaching has been the subject of media scrutiny for months, are ‘push[ing] their own agenda’.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“This is splashed all over the media and there is inside ‘goss’. You pretty much have exactly what happened in the meeting with Cricket Australia – it’s there for everyone to read,” Clarke said.
“How does that happen? How can that not stay private? It is out of control.
“I don’t know what side it’s come from, how it’s got out or why it’s got out – I have a fair idea – either way, this is not helping anyone.
“I can’t believe how this information can get out from a meeting. When I played and was captain I used to question how certain things got out. Individual players have individual managers. You can push your own agenda but this is unbelievable.”
Clarke also joined a number of prominent ex-Australian cricket greats, including Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Matthew Hayden, Kim Hughes in urging CA to retain Langer, saying the team’s success over the past six months speaks for itself.
“I honestly cannot believe you can [sack] someone in a role that has been, certainly of late, so successful,” Clarke said.
“What JL has done since taking over the coaching role after the sandpaper saga, and really trying to find a way to bring Australia back to the cricket team that we were, and even in regards to earning that respect from fans and other teams… he’s done such a good job.
“Yet this is splashed all over the media, and there’s inside goss. You’ve pretty much got exactly what happened in the meeting with Cricket Australia, it’s there for everyone to read.
“How can that happen?”
Meanwhile, former captain Ian Chappell had a different take suggesting that a cricket coach at the highest level is not worth worrying about and doesn’t make much difference to a team’s success.
“It’s what the players do under the captain, and I think they’ve got a very good skipper in Pat Cummins, as long as he runs the show,” Chappell said on 2GB radio.
“But I’d be looking to spend a hell of a lot more money on getting the right selectors, rather than worry about the coach.”
“If they have some problems along the way get people in to talk about them, to me that’s the only feasible way to run a cricket team.
Current Australian Test captain Pat Cummins was asked his thoughts on Justin Langer as coach. Cummins refused to weigh into speculation about whether Langer would remain but said he’s enjoyed working with him.
“It lays in Cricket Australia’s hands (a decision),” Cummins said.
“I’ve got huge respect for JL. I really like working with him but it’s not my call. I don’t think (speculation) really helps anyone.”
“Hopefully there’s a decision made soon by Cricket Australia but we’ll sit back and wait.”
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