Justin Langer has hit out at the “bull**** politics” within Cricket Australia, taking particular aim at interim Cricket Australia chairman Richard Freudenstein.
Langer quit as coach of Australia in February after being offered an insulting six-month contract extension despite guiding the team to T20 World Cup and Ashes glory.
A rumoured breakdown in the relationship between Langer and a core of senior players led to CA’s move to push the 51-year-old towards the exit.
A host of Australia’s greatest Test players, including Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden and the late Shane Warne, lambasted CA for the way it treated Langer.
The anger Langer felt about his treatment from CA was still evident on Wednesday when he recalled the conversation he had with Freudenstein the day after he quit as Australia coach.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“The first thing he said to me was, ‘It must make you feel so good that all your mates are supporting you in the media,’” Langer told a Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA event in Perth.
“I said, ‘Yeah it is, acting chairman, but with all due respect, those mates are also the all-time greats of Australian cricket. They are the fabric of Australian cricket.
“They are Australian cricket. They also work all around the world in cricket. So yeah, I’m glad my mates are looking after me. Imagine if you had have.
“Ironically, the last six months of my coaching career were the most enjoyable period of 12 years of coaching.
“Not only did we win everything, but I had energy, and I had focus, and I was happy – besides the bulls*** politics.”
Australia have since appointed Andrew McDonald as Langer’s replacement.
After resigning, Langer’s name was immediately linked to the England coaching position.
Langer, whose pride and passion for Australia is renowned, made it crystal clear he never considered the role.
“I’ve never spoken to English cricket,” Langer said.
“The thought of coaching England (shakes his head fervently) … mate!”
Langer talked openly about the tough lessons he learnt as coach, with the stress of trying to do too much eventually taking its toll on his physical and mental health.
“For three or four years I was concentrating on the politics, the media, the sponsorship; I was trying to do everything – I was trying to be everything to everyone,” Langer said.
“It’s no wonder you get tired. It’s no wonder your health suffers; your mental, your physical health. You’re trying to please everybody.
“The great lesson I learned was … I cleared my desk, and all of a sudden instead of having everything on my table, I had two things on my desk.
“One was winning and the second thing was my people.”
Having support – one thing Langer lacked from CA and a number of players towards the end of his coaching tenure – was also one of the most important things to him.
“If you know people have got your back, you can achieve miracles,” Langer said.
“If they haven’t, it’s a very lonely place.
“Leadership can be very, very lonely. But it’s not lonely when you know people have got your back.”
Langer is unsure what his next move will be, but said staying in Western Australia with his family was his priority.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Yeah, I came to say I find this all very undignified from Langer... He is doing himself no favours at all.
justin
Roar Rookie
A tool when he played and a tool as coach... Go into the sunset and take McGrath and Hayden with you...
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
One is winning the second is the people . No wonder he lost the confidence of the team .
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Langer was never going to support senior players playing for franchise ahead of country. So there could only be one winner in that battle, and it was never going to be the coach, vs the more marketable revenue-generating player/s. So the outcome of last summer re coach v captain shouldn't be that much of a surprise. The likes of Langer are a threat to the income generation of contemporary stars. Langer was too focused on the "old days" where national pride was primacy; times have changed but Langer didn't change with them. McDonald will take a more contemporary approach where he is guided by what the players want. Hope he does well in the role he is given.
Brown Nosed Gnome
Guest
The captain of the Aussie team was not happy with Langer and his volatile behaviour. End of story.
Simoc
Guest
As always talking about himself. He has taken to many knocks to the head. He probably does go down to the local park to watch cricket and tell someone his story because he's running out of listeners.
HR
Roar Rookie
I think that there's a fair question to be asked about what Langer thought his role was. He seems to think that he was effectively the CEO of the team (the "everything to everyone" comment), and certainly seems to have a bit of an issue with micromanagement (same comment). Considering himself the leader of the team, rather than a facilitator, seems to suggest a bit of a disconnect with what the role of the coach should be as well. It's interesting that he found the job the most enjoyable when he was focussing on getting the players to perform to the best of their ability rather than all of the extraneous stuff - and perhaps if he had done that sooner, he would have had a more harmonious relationship with the players and might still be in the role. Regarding his former teammates as "the fabric of Australian cricket" is also not an ideal attitude for a coach to have - if he's looking back with rose-tinted glasses rather than focussing on the future and the current team (with the view that ex-players might be able to lend their wisdom from time to time), that doesn't seem like a great way to get the best out of the current team. Was the end of his tenure dealt with badly by CA? Yes. Should he have stayed on as coach? Probably not, based on some of the comments he has made here.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Bob Simpson can actually be captain of your proposed team because he also didn't get his desired contract renewal.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
This says it nicely. He appears not to grasp the point though. It was time for Justin to move on. Great career as a test batsman, great job of turning the senior men's team around after they lost their way. Thanks for your contribution.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Resigned. Dumped. Reassigned. Fully supported by the board. Same diff. All I remember is some chubby bloke crying at a media conference.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Boof resigned. I endorse your idea and will bankroll it.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Time for a team of former international greats who got dumped as national coach. JL. Boof. Pretty much anyone who ever coached Pakistan.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
With all due respect, I am assuming the "he achieved more than you did" is entirely within a cricketing context?
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
The Goddess Rhea wouldn't like you taking her place of entitlement. Best thing would be for those offended by Langer having anything to say would be to say nothing. He did something more than you did,achieved more than you did. Entitled,nah, cranky,yeah, focused, more than necessary, sure. Soothing to the precious,hardly. Suitable for the third decade of the second millennium, probably not. Dealt with unjustly by CA, you have judged not. Get over it or it'll ruin your weekend.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Aren't we all Justin, aren't we all.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
As Bob Simpson said in his 1996 book 'The Reasons Why' "The ones who think they're never going to be left out are the ones who find rejection hardest to take".
George
Guest
Predictable self-entitled nonsense. Miracles. Pfft.
Ruairidh MacDonald
Roar Rookie
This annoyed me so much too. It’s frightening to think how many other people in the CA and media system might have this galactic sense of entitlement as well. I wonder how long it’s been since he’s gone down to a local park and seen what Australian cricket really is
Pedro
Guest
It’s all about me. If that’s the best he can come up with after a period of self reflection then perhaps CA did make the right decision.
rakshop
Roar Rookie
If Justin Langer wants to know why he doesnt have a job anymore - just replay this clip back to him. Whether he is right or wrong in that particular instance (which to be honest I dont think he is right) - wasnt it the player feedback that JL is arrogant and has an embellished view of self-importance the very reason why his contract wasn't renewed???