Michael Vaughan has revealed the three players – including captain Pat Cummins – who joined new interim coach Andrew McDonald in an apparently mutinous discussion of the future of Justin Langer in a pub ahead of the Hobart Ashes Test.
Vaughan says English reporters Ali Martin and Nick Hoult – who both broke the story that Trevor Bayliss was the gathering’s preferred pick to replace Langer – were sitting near the quarter of Cummins, McDonald, David Warner and Mitchell Starc at a pub.
Australia had secured the Ashes and Langer’s future was a heavy topic of conversation in the media after reports of dressingroom discontent.
“The one piece of advice I’d give him is that when you’re an Australian cricket captain, you’re always under watch,” the 2005 Ashes-winning skipper said on the Fox Cricket Follow-On podcast.
“I know from close contacts in the England journalistic world that Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, and Andrew McDonald were caught having conversations in a pub in Hobart. That conversation was heard by two or three British journalists.
“My advice to Pat Cummins would be, if you’re going to have strong conversations about the potential removal of your Australian cricket coach, who was in position at the time, don’t do it at a pub. Do not do it in a public domain where you may get heard.
“That’s how all these stories started. It was quite clear that they wanted Justin Langer out, and evident they were talking about the likes of Trevor Bayliss, Michael Di Venuto and Andrew McDonald, who was in that conversation as well.
“They can deny it as much as they want, but the two or three journalists that I know of who were there were in the pub listening. When you’re an international captain, just be careful where you have that conversation.”
(Photo by Getty Images)
Bayliss has a connection to Cummins through their shared club side of Penrith.
Cummins received heavy public criticism for his role in Langer’s downfall, but was adamant he felt the time had come for a change to new ways of approaching the job.
Meanwhile, News Corp says Langer has already fielded many job offers while he’s been in quarantine after arriving home in Western Australia.
“There’s a lot of interest in Justin’s availability from all around the world. We’ve received a lot of approaches inside and outside the game,” Langer’s manager James Henderson said..
“I’m sure Justin Langer won’t be unemployed next summer.”
England Cricket Board administrator and former England captain Andrew Strauss has confirmed Langer is being considered for their national job.
News Corp says he would be in demand as a commentator for 7 and Fox Cricket but considers himself a “career coach”.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
There's an alternative. None of the 'Australian' media wanted to go with a story that made NSW players look bad.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
The difficulty in being a "parochial" poster is that there's this overwhelming urge to try and counter the huge imbalance of the 'Australian' media and its relentless NSW bias.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
I don't know why. They've had a terrific run recently of displaying how they ruin... sorry... 'run' Oz cricket.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I resemble Chris Hemsworth, hard to believe, I know.
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Agreed, Davie is trouble for Australia. Extremely talented, but extreme trouble. No morality or ethical fibre
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Well Vaughnee when I go to the pub with work colleagues we grisle and moan about management. The one thing we don't do is make derogatory comments on Pakistan co workers.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
My problem was always getting over excited and trying to hit over cow corner. And my on speed stuff went through at 100k so not really a bowling captain either
Clear as mud
Guest
wretched person. blow hard, keep blowing harder and harder.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I notice Lachie Henderson has been named CA Chairman. Great irony; he was a long term clubmate/teammate of Justin Langer at Scarborough. Good solid swing bowler. I wonder if we might have a recapping of a range of recent decisions at the first few board meetings.
matth
Roar Guru
No Oz, you can’t be Australian captain due to your propensity to nick ones to slip early in an innings.
matth
Roar Guru
Don’t mention The War
matth
Roar Guru
That 13 was nearly as good as Rob Quiney’s famous 7 :laughing: :laughing: . Seriously though, good to see Agar get some actual cricket. I’d keep him up too for the rest of this series so he actually has some international cricket before Pakistan.
Lara
Guest
Image Fox Cricket created the new awesome 4some…..Langer, Hayden, Warne n Junior in the commentary box…..” I going to maker love” n they are stupid enough to even contemplate it . The poor buggers who pay for Fox Sports.
Golden Army
Guest
I can live here in Africa which I love, because I had the vision & foresight many years ago to invest offshore & internationalize my holding. And yes, South Africa is a failing state, but Africa & Africans are great people. No, I didn’t choose to emigrate with all the fascists who scurried off to Australia the minute we achieved democracy here. I can see by your comments why they fitted in so well there Golden Army. Translation: I'm too poor to leave.
Ian
Roar Rookie
I wish Vaughan (2005 Ashes winning captain) would state whether it was 2 or 3 journos???..Seriously, this arrogant clown is considered totally irrelevant over here. No one cares what he thinks or says anymore.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You are so obtuse. Here’s a comment I made to the other troll earlier today: Yes. Did you also read today my suggestion that Steketee should tour, that Boland should be given a go at T20, that the great bowling light is Xavier Bartlett. I suggested Nathan Ellis too. That was all today. Yesterday, I said Jason Sangha, Frazer-McGurk and Kellaway are part of a promising batting future. Can you pick the West Aussie in that lot? I even suggested Tim David isn’t up to it and he’s a Perth boy. Just in case you don’t know WA is part of Australia. It’s no surprise WA players get mentioned. They lead the Shield, the Marsh Cup and won the BBL. Remember when you used to join our sports discussions. Why did you decide to resort to trolling? Reached the limit of your sporting knowledge?
Jimmy
Guest
You have to be kidding. You want 4 people sacked because British "journalists" "overheard" them. Yes you are "worked up". A story based on hearsay hits the floor and people on social media start frothing at the mouth. It is like they are searching for something to get angry about. Usually the story is total garbage or is a dramatization of events. Honestly, some englishmen cannot beat us on the field so they trot out this bollocks
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
OK, here we go. You're apparently so lacking in self-awareness that you don't see that everybody here expects you to big up WA players (and coaches) all the time and often with no justification whatsoever. Most of the time, we simply expect you to ride into town and propose WA cricketers for roles in national teams. Often, those opinions are sensible and backed by real analysis. Sometimes it's simply rubbish. Either way, it's what is expected of big Don Freo. So when you consistently push Head for the white ball skipper role, it's unusual. Not bad, just unusual. I agree with you as it happens. But apparently, you lack the ability to laugh at yourself so, when I remind you that Head is from SA, you don't get that it's a gentle shot at your consistent WA-centric commentary, you see it as a personal attack and immediately call me a troll. If you're going to play the hopelessly parochial poster here, at least be smart enough to realise that's your role and acknowledge that people's comments will reflect that.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
His not part of the New South Wales mafia.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Absolute rats, Cummins is not captaincy material and Warner is a wretched person.