One of the most distressing aspects of the Justin-Langer-departs-as-coach saga has been all the primal screaming by his former teammates.
Legends of the game. Well, mostly.
Adam Gilchrist. Matthew Hayden. Steve Waugh. Mitchell Johnson. Mark Taylor. Mark Waugh. Ricky Ponting. Michael Clarke. Damien Martyn. Brett Lee. Brad Hogg. John Buchanan (He’s the ‘mostly’).
All having a go at Cricket Australia… and the current players.
Some of the criticism has been measured and thoughtful-ish, such as Ponting.
Some of it has been vicious and personal. Mitchell Johnson has described Pat Cummins as “gutless”. John Buchanan dubbed the players greedy and selfish. Michael Clarke is calling on Pat Cummins to come clean.
Shane Warne accused the players of covering up items from Sandpaper-gate and said the team weren’t good enough to sack their coach.
Mark Taylor warned, mafioso-like: “The players have to be careful in that regard that they don’t isolate the rest of us from jobs like this.”
Even cuddly Adam Gilchrist and normally-silent Steve Waugh are indignant.
Most of these men played alongside Langer. Buchanan coached him.
None played under him as national coach. None seem to acknowledge that fact.
(Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
The generation gap of Australian cricket has never seemed so stark.
And for the first time that generation of Australian cricketers – one of the greatest ever in history – seem a bit, well, old.
For them this is clearly personal. It’s touched a core in their psyches the way that, say, the pay dispute never did. Or the recent charges against Michael Slater.
On one hand I can understand it. Langer’s removal is not just traumatic because of the hurt inflicted on a close friend and former colleague, but an end to a personal connection to the Australian men’s side. Which means they’ve all become a little less relevant.
I’ve no doubt their feelings are sincere.
They do seem to have forgotten their own problems with coaches over the years (such as Warne), including their roles in removing incumbent coaches (such as Johnson, Steve Waugh, Taylor and Clarke), and complete indifference when previous coaches were moved on (such as pretty much all of them in the case of Mickey Arthur).
Generation gap amnesia is not new in Australian cricket.
Don Bradman once threatened to pull out of the Test side in 1932-33 because of financial reasons – then after he retired and served on the board, he became was a big believer in paying the players SFA, leading to World Series Cricket.
Greg Chappell was among the players who led the revolt of World Series Cricket for more pay, but once he retired has come to see current players as greedy and entitled (it’s in his latest book).
Mark Taylor threatened to lead a strike action of players for more pay… then once he retired and served on the board, he was part of the pay dispute where the board tried to overturn a system Taylor was integral in setting up.
(Credit: Mike Hewitt /Allsport/Getty Images)
Players who stood up for players rights when they were playing were deafeningly silent during the pay dispute.
‘Young kids need a kick up the backside… they’re lazy these days… it’s all about their phones… in my day.’
These are typical things said by old men. I guess they are old now. It just comes as a shock, especially as it doesn’t have to be that way.
You can stay young (or at least, not old) by trying to understand the young. It seems the more reasoned, calmer comments from ex-players on this issue have emitted from those who are still involved in coaching and/or junior cricket: Geoff Lawson and Jason Gillespie.
Ian Chappell has been supportive of Cummins but I think that’s mostly because he hates the concept of the coach full stop.
None of the rabid ex-players – even the ones who commentate, whose current job is meant to be offering insight into how cricketers feel – seem to have any empathy for the present-day team.
How come non-former-playing journalists know about the difficulties the players had with Langer but former cricketers like Ponting and Gilchrist didn’t?
Ricky Ponting, a very good commentator (he actually prepares, unlike several of his famous colleagues), said: “Reading the tea leaves, it sounds like a few, as he [Langer] would say to me, a very small group of the playing group and a couple of other staff around the team haven’t entirely loved the way he’s gone about it.”
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Why couldn’t Ponting find out what’s going on? Why are they only getting Langer’s side of things? Do none of them have any relationship with the current players to get some sort of insight? Or do they just not care?
The ex-player mafia have a powerful voice, mainly because they clog up so many positions in the commentary box and provide so much easy content for the media via their thoughts on Twitter and Instagram.
I know Cricket Australia are going to make overtures to this group, especially the commentators, but I’m telling you now, the only way to shut them up is going to be (a) for the national team to win everything, which is very hard; (b) pay them all off with some in-house job; or (c) appoint Jason Gillespie as coach.
Out of the other leading contenders for the gig, Andrew McDonald only played four Tests and Trevor Bayliss none, which isn’t going to be enough to save them from mafia scorn if Australia has a few wobbles – just ask Mickey Arthur and Tim Nielsen.
Gillespie is super experienced with a fine record… so too is Bayliss and McDonald (and Greg Shipperd, probably the best domestic coach in Australia who never seems to be in the running for the top job for whatever reason), but I think the coaching staff need the protective flank of Gillespie’s record.
In 2018 I wrote a piece for The Roar objecting to Langer’s appointment saying “I think the whole thing is going to end badly”.
Well, it has. None more so than what’s happening with the ex-player lobby.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
At least no brown noses in the former players! Cummins…….well lots of brown!
Clear as mud
Guest
yes it's completely factual that you can decide who you will take your listening from as per above, the rest is a bit contestable. maybe we should all come back in 30 years and see who isn't in the Hall of Fame?
Clear as mud
Guest
it must be my brain, because I have read your post and seems like you think nobody in the current team will ever reach greatness over the journey. and i think it's pretty easy to predict that Cummins and Hoff will sclipse Lee and Johnson, with none of the histrionics. Smith is with Ponting our most successful batter for 70 years. Marnus will be as good as Marto, probably a lot better. so, yep, I'm missing this transcendental "that" which makes some guys who played well between 2000-2010 giants and legends, and the people who come after them non-giants. so maybe try explaining it again???
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm guessing Mark Waugh is finally getting it. Warne and he can still be a good friends, but when Warne's commentating, he's probably everyone's worst enemy - unless he's talking about spin bowling of course.
Jero
Roar Rookie
Warne repeatefly pressed hard on asking whether the Australian players getting out to unconventional shots was due to a team directive. This was eventually padded away by Waugh, who in spite of his obvious misgivings about Langer no longer being the coach, doesn't seem quite as hell bent on targeting McDonald in order to be proven right. It was cringeworthy and laughable stuff, certainly not what you could describe as commentary without doing disservice to anyone making a fair attempt to be good at it.
Paul
Roar Guru
Yep, it was odds on if those two were paired together, they were going have more to say.
Jero
Roar Rookie
Warner and Mark Waugh haven't wasted any time, straight out of the blocks in the Foxtel T20 commentary in the opening minutes.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Not a grandpa mate…..just talking facts unlike you….how old are you? 10? Off to bed you go!
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Read my post again mate…..or maybe your eyes are broken?
Loomy
Guest
Thanks grandpa, off you go to bed
S D Warnakulasuriya
Guest
Why all this fuss about Langers exit. what people have to understand is coaching jobs are not permanent. Coaches come and coaches go. That's the trend all over the world. Usually after three to four years there needs to be a change as the Coach will run out of ideas and the players might get tired of his methods and need new ideas. I don't think anyone has to be sentimental about it but be realistic. Langer may be a nice bloke in the eyes of his former team mates but I don't think they are aware of his coaching abilities. I don't think they are aware of his mood changing and high intensity training methods. Being fond of the baggy green cap and the traditions involved with aussie cricket does not necessarily give your the right to remain as the coach for ever. Its the players who are more important and not the coaches because players are the ones who are playing and the modern cricketers go through lot of pressure. Therefore they need a calm and composed coach who will understand them and help them to get through the tough periods. Fo players, the dressing room during matches becomes a shrine and the worse thing that can happen is to have a coach sitting there huffing and puffing instead of being calm and absorb all the pressure himself. Coaches contributions is about 20% and their success depends on players If the players are good then the coach becomes a good one. Classic example is John Buchanan. He had such a good team at that time and he only had to manage them. About a year ago Langer was told about his short coming s and to improve them if he wants to remain as coach but sadly it has not happened. I can understand Crcket Australia s position as they don't want to forcefully appoint Langer against the wishes of the players and the skipper. In any case Langer has done his part and it's time to move on.
Clear as mud
Guest
it's the pilots' strike all over again. we are not really the country we think we are. sadly.
Clear as mud
Guest
yep, Smith and Warner, nobodies with rubbish records. Lyon, no wickets at all. Cummins, that average and SR, just a club bowler. Hazlewood who? they will get respect at my place. they can come any time they like. As can Punter. AB. Warney. Pidge. Marto they younger. Gillespie can have my house. -- the real issue is why you want to hear form anyone, legend or otherwise. are your eyes broken?
Mitchell Hall
Roar Rookie
How many times do teams fall out with coaches! England especially. Let's see how they go for 12 months with no coach.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
I will always listen to what these ex champions have top say rather than the dribble that Cummins & his cohorts come out with. The new order will never be legends of the game....their names will never be remembered like the 'ex champions' are!
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
I dare say that all the ex players involved know much more about what's transpired than what you know or think mate! The 'new' crop, including Cummins, will never be legends like Ponting, Border, Warne, Gilchrist, Johnson, Langer, Lee, McGrath, Gillespie, Martyn, etc........the list goes on. They will never get the respect nor will deserve be viewed as legends of the game as these guys are. I will always listen to what these guys have to say....not the dribble from the new order!
Jo Park
Roar Rookie
And won 5 nil.
Jason
Roar Rookie
I think they may have a better handle on the situation than us on here.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
A couple of observations from this saga. I’ve been intrigued by the amount of support from Roarers for the Langer camp. A common theme is blind loyalty and extreme ungratefulness to the boss. Surely everyone has come across a boss or 12 that was less than perfect? Indeed they might have had the effect of breaking down a previously effective system by losing the plot? Isn’t a little bit UnAustralian to give the boss too much credit? The other thing I humbly reckon is that former players, like Langer, are out of touch with actually playing the game. They need to find a club and get out there and play. To reacquaint themselves with how it feels when they miss a run out or drop a sitter. That exquisite agony when you get a quacker playing a silly shot. To commiserate is half the fun. For an awful lot of cricketers it’s well more than half the fun.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I think we know after Cummins's statement who the players were. He was one of them. And he explained why he didn't think Langer was the right person moving forward, but was still very supportive and respectful of him.