Justin Langer has blamed “politics” for contributing to his departure as Australian cricket coach, despite leading the team to an Ashes thrashing of England and the 202 T20 World Cup crown. The 51-year-old walked away from the job in February after failing to gain public support from key players and after bitter contract talks with governing body Cricket Australia (CA). He was dissatisfied with being offered only a six-month extension, despite leading Australia to a 4-0 Ashes win at the start of the year and the UAE T20 title in 2021 .
Australian cricketing greats including Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh and the late Shane Warne jumped to his defense and took offense at the way he was treated.
But in the run-up to his departure, disgruntled players had anonymously complained to Australian media about his intense coaching style.
In his first comments since, a still brooding Langer described a heated conversation with CA’s then-interim chairman Richard Freudenstein the day after he retired.
“The first thing he said to me was, ‘It must make you feel so good to have all your friends supporting you in the media,'” Langer was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au, CA’s digital arm, to a chamber of commerce event in Perth on Wednesday.
“I said, ‘Yes, Acting Chairman, but with all due respect, those friends are also the all-time greats of Australian cricket.
“‘They are the fabric of Australian cricket. They are Australian cricket. They also work in cricket all over the world. So yes, I’m glad my friends are looking after me. Imagine if you had.”
“Ironically, the last six months of my coaching career have been the most enjoyable period of 12 years of coaching,” he added.
“Not only did we win everything, but I had energy and focus and I was happy – aside from the bullshit politics.”
Langer took the job in 2018 with Australian cricket at its lowest point for decades in the wake of a cheating affair, and was credited with restoring pride in their much-loved baggy green cap.
He was replaced by Andrew McDonald, with Langer being immediately linked to the England coaching position after Chris Silverwood stepped down following their disastrous Ashes campaign.
promoted
But Langer insisted he had never considered the part.
“I’ve never spoken to English cricket,” he said. “The thought of coaching England… mate!”
Topics mentioned in this article