In the words of Tony Crafter when Dennis Lillee and Javed Miandad floated the idea of lowering a cage onto the WACA and starting a whole new cricketing format, for God’s sake, everyone calm down.
Had you been following the feverish commentary by pundit, punter and ex-player alike on the saga of Justin Langer’s contract or lack thereof, you might have quite reasonably come away with the idea that the departure of Langer from the national coaching position was simultaneously the most fiendish act of treason since Benedict Arnold switched sides, the worst sporting decision since Garrick Morgan switched codes and the cruellest treatment of a decent man since the first act of RoboCop.
Of course if you’d managed to follow the commentary without succumbing to the seductive lure of the pitchfork, you might have instead come to the conclusion that what happened was this: a coach came to the end of his contract, some of those he’d coached expressed the opinion that he was not their preferred choice for the future, the ruling body therefore somewhat clumsily made it clear he wasn’t in their long-term plans and the coach resigned in order to make a clean break.
It was not the most edifying spectacle, watching it play out in public, and that there have been more elegant and harmonious partings of ways cannot be denied. But neither was it an act of unprecedented bastardry or the death knell of the true spirit of Australian cricket, no matter what certain retired players who never heard of taking a deep breath and counting to ten might say.
(Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images for the Australian Cricketers’ Association
Some things seem obvious. The fact that Justin Langer did good work in helping the Australian team move toward redemption after the sandpaper affair is surely beyond doubt. For that horrible moment in cricket history, he was the right man.
It’s also beyond doubt that the on-field results of the Langer tenure were mixed at best. The performance at the 2019 World Cup was disappointing, the retention of the Ashes a worthy achievement but the 2-2 scoreline not as good as it should have been, and the defeat at home by an Indian team not at full strength a great disappointment.
Few other things can be known with certainty. From outside the Australian camp the best we can do is conjecture. Luckily that’s our favourite game, so we’ve all been engaging in it with unbounded enthusiasm. But if by any chance anyone wants to think about the Langer issue with a touch of sobriety rather than in as red-faced a manner as possible, perhaps a few points might be considered that have hitherto been mostly overlooked.
For a start, we all know that some of the players under Langer’s tutelage grew weary of his style and of his moods. It’s said that after Langer was confronted with this fact, he changed his style, stepped back and was less intense, and the success of the T20 World Cup and the home Ashes series followed. This could be an endorsement of the new, more relaxed JL. It could just as easily be an endorsement of the player view that Australia plays better when Langer is less involved.
We can’t really know without access to the inner sanctum, and that’s kind of the point: among those commenting on the topic there is a varying level of knowledge of what goes on in the dressing room, but nobody is as much of an expert on the workings of the current Australian team as the members of that team are.
The second point to bear in mind is this: the opinions of the coach’s best buddies may make for juicy headlines, but they really don’t count for much if you want to find out the truth. So the guys who played alongside JL for years reckon he’s awesome? You don’t say!
Cricket Australia is, as we all know, far from an infallible organisation, but it would be a much much worse one if, in its deliberations on appointing a coach, it gave any weight at all to what the candidates’ mates reckon. Or to put it another way: if Matthew Hayden is reduced to tears when talking about the Australian coaching job, maybe Matthew Hayden isn’t the most impartial judge you can find.
Furthermore, it’s pretty important to bear in mind the fact that an international cricket coach is not a position equivalent to the head coach of a football club. The coach of an NRL or AFL team is the big boss – the ultimate dictator, lord of all he surveys. The coach of the Australian cricket team is the most senior member of the support staff helping out the players. He’s not in charge and he shouldn’t be in charge. If the exit of Justin Langer is a course correction in the way the team is organised, similar to Mark Taylor’s reassertion of the captain’s primacy – and putting Bob Simpson back in his box – upon taking over from Allan Border, that may very well be all to the good.
The next point is that, no, as a matter of fact results are not the only thing that matters. From the outside wins and losses are what we judge coaches – and players – on because we have so little else to go on. On the inside indications of players’ unhappiness and team disharmony matter too, not least because they’re a good sign that even if results are strong now, they won’t be for long. A coach’s job isn’t just to win games, it’s to nurture players and help create a strong and united team.
In light of the above-mentioned point regarding the difference between cricket and footy coaches, the behind-the-scenes jobs – the ones that aren’t easily measured in wins and losses – are even more crucial to judging a coach’s performance.
And finally, in regard to attacks on Pat Cummins, most notably by Mitchell Johnson, who ripped into the Test captain like Langer was a puppy and Cummins just backed over him, a couple of points: firstly that it’s not true that Cummins refused to offer any endorsement of the coach and secondly that it’s not true that it’s the captain’s job to tell the board who the coach should be. The idea that players need to be blindly loyal to their coach was not one in currency during Johnson’s career, so why he’s trying to popularise it now is a mystery.
None of which is to say that Cricket Australia definitely got it right. They could have been more decisive. They could have been more direct. They could have dithered less. But dithering is what administrators do. In the annals of sporting history CA’s actions won’t go down as anything so extraordinary, just as another case of protracted clumsiness by a bunch of suits in executing a pretty standard process. Possibly they will look like idiots in six months. Possibly they will look like geniuses. It’s likely neither will be accurate.
Maybe Langer was unfairly treated. Maybe he wasn’t. But either way, coaches come and coaches go, and not every departure has to be met with hysteria, even if you didn’t want it to happen.
So come on. Settle, petals.
Bartz
Roar Rookie
What’s this?! A balanced article, written in a moderate tone, encouraging a reasoned approach which puts things into a rational and wider perspective, rather than venomous argument back and forth over the froth-mouthed, hypocritical rantings of a few people with massive bias, conflicts of interest and relevance deprivation? No way are we having any of that reasonable, moderate rubbish around here sir! The opportunity of finally getting the Australian men’s cricket team back to a decent level of respect with the wider community with a popular, fresh captain and a new approach must be sacrificed on the altar of high dudgeon, set aflame to pay tribute to the mythological legends of the past who still shriek for tributes like gods that know they are fast becoming forgotten. All hail to JL and his mates Haydee, Warney, Tubby, Tugga & their little closed circle of mates - though shalt not bring false gods before us.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
wasnt handled well , CA dithering inept management
Paul
Roar Guru
Yep, everything you've written seems to be on the money, but I still reckon it's a terrible way to manage this issue.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
A six month deal was an insult and way of getting rid of langer without looking like they didn’t offer something though Paul. hockley made it clear , verbatim , two days ago , after that jl would not be extended and removed after that six months. hockley had made that decision with CA so it was an offer that was made for JL to refuse . they got rid of him Paul and the players were key in that process its all pretty clear now after hockley and Cummins making verbatim statements saying exactly that
Paul
Roar Guru
I have to believe Cummins is telling the truth about the players wanting the change, but really, so what? The fact Langer was offered a contract extension is saying "we want you in", when all the indicators were, they, ie CA and the players, wanted him out. And presumably if Langer had accepted the 6 month deal, the players would have been happy to work with him? As Mickey Arthur said, it's pretty gutless management, the way this has been mishandled.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Cummins press interview and statement moments ago pretty compelling that the players wanted a change even if many liked him
Paul
Roar Guru
There's an assumption being made that Langer couldn't provide what the players wanted, so they wanted him out. This is contradicted by the new contract offer from Hockley. It doesn't matter it was only for 6 months or is dressed up in some fancy language about transition, etc, the fact was Langer, with his current skillset, was considered capable of continuing to coach ALL Australia's mens teams. And not only capable of continuing in the role, taking touring sides overseas for the first time in ages and defending the World Cup. There's no way CA would make an offer unless they expected him to continue to provide winning results Someone, or more than one person, is telling porkies
Pierro
Roar Rookie
pretty clear the players didn’t want Langer after Cummins statements . a few were off the mark on roar to say the least https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/02/09/sticking-up-for-my-mates-cummins-explains-why-he-wanted-jl-gone-in-brutally-honest-statement/
RT
Roar Rookie
That was one of the weirdest things I've seen on the campaign trail. Credit to him and all those around him. No one flinched.
Phil
Guest
Very well put,Ben.Of course it could have been handled better but critics like Hayden,Gilly and Johnson should be totally ignored,even if they were great players.Naturally they are going to stick up for their old mate,but attacks on Cummins are completely unwarranted.I have no idea if Cummins is going to be a great captain,but so far he seems to have done most things right,including not wanting to give his opinion on the coaching job,although saying "we love JL" is not exactly rubbishing the bloke!
Campbell Watts
Guest
"make as many rubs as you can as quickly" Ahh nothing better than a quick rub eh Brett? :laughing:
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Nat
Roar Guru
I still wonder if that would be enough. I can imagine walking past a a dark broom closet and hearing the ramblings still going.
Clear as mud
Guest
sorry i should have typed "I much preferred the team of Jan 17 but it seemed the fans preferred the team of Jan 18..." -- pride cometh before The Fall.
Jero
Roar Rookie
Go for it, all yours NickoM.
Clear as mud
Guest
yes agree definitely re Smith. his behaviour towards Maxwell was simply OTT. when he then had to rest from the NZ white ball tour and let Warner lead (brilliantly, naturally, effortlessly), the warning signs (aligned with GS Chappell's recollection now of Smith's mid-Ashes burnout) were completely front and centre. Yet we sent the team on arguably the toughest tour of all with virtually zero support, and still didn't react when things were clearly getting out of hand (Lyon, the second test etc). A nark would point out that Langer had some time as acting coach in 2016 as Lehmann did some scouting and R and R. but that would be something a lawyer would raise. Better Call Saul... --- to me your analysis brings it back to the Ethics Committee findings. the players felt absolute commercial pressure to win, win win - - "and without counting the costs". coming from the top of the Board and CA right down. Hobart bullying etc. --- however the thing that fascinates me is that the rebound that summer of Hobart seemed joyous. the way they pummelled Pakistan in Melbourne even though it rained; Warner's ton before lunch in Sydney and the 8 an over hit and giggle second dig in Sydney. You could argue the opposition was so weak that we never had to find that snarly gear. Maybe, but seems ungenerous to me. They seemed a brand new team, with Renshaw, Handscomb, two spinners etc. We went to India and almost won with a bunch of new faces and Cummins returning. Only minor behaviour issues, often triggered by Aussie Virat (and stupid DRS protocols). Then the pay dispute.... went on and on.... did that make the embittered? The Board certainly were. The players seemed to be making a stand for their peers, the women etc - but were pilloried. No WSC "heroes" treatment for them. Bangladesh was a blur but the recovery was some of the best. A really under-appreciated series in the context, Warner at his best. --- something changes, England are coming. Was it the Board saying "you have to beat them, you must crush them"? all those crazy selection punts, some of which come off. I remember that summer as one of protest against the treatment of Maxwell, but it also seemed pretty joyless cricket. England were hopeless. But we revelled in physically battering them. We barely had to sledge them - we just got Cummins to bowl another throat ball on the flat decks (the Anderson assault in Perth with the Ashes decided still makes me sick). Smith often referred to batting collapses, he still seemed haunted by Hobart (and India, which were all pretty predictable on those decks). It was as if none of the wins since then mattered. I much preferred the team of Jan 2016 but it seemed the Board and the fans preferred the triumphant team of Jan 2017. Four gas filled fingers in the air in Sydney probably Australia's true nadir in cricket? Maybe that's the key, the Board not stepping in during that Ashes series, not seeing how flimsy the veneer was, how gassed the skipper was, how fair weather many of the batters were? but crass sells, hey? so it sent them to SA ready to soar - or to burst into flames. Which doesn't shine a favourable light on Lehmann, really?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I remember when Tony Abbott ate a raw opinion, we all cried.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
PW, GM was crushed when he read this, but I think the real victim was Rugby League. You are right though, it's never to late to try and heal the wound.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Jero, "It’s not as hard withdrawing something you never said" I'm going to steal this, it's awesome
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: