Australian coach Justin Langer has lifted the lid somewhat on conversations with senior players and management about his style and how he is perceived by those under his charge.
It was during last summer’s Test series loss to India that reports surfaced Langer was losing the dressing room, allegedly putting a number of players offside with his emotional and intense approach to the job.
Things escalated during a mid-year white ball tour overseas, where the Aussies performed dismally and Langer was alleged to have been in a heated confrontation with a Cricket Australia staffer.
It was after that tour all hell broke lose, with players accused of going behind the coach’s back to air grievances to CA heavies.
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Langer was said to be sidelined and more power given to players and assistant coaches. He has been publicly quiet since that tour, breaking the silence a fortnight ago with a bizarre post to his LinkedIn account.
Now in the UAE for the T20 World Cup, Langer phoned in to SEN radio where he was quizzed on blunt conversations he had with the playing group during their mid-year your.
“I was humbled, not so much by what I was told by the players — I thought that was brilliant, that’s how it should be — I wasn’t shaken by what the players told me,” Langer said.
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“I was humbled, I was a bit shaken with how it was being played out publicly and I’m human, that had an effect on my family, that’s part of it, I’m human, I am stoic but I am human.
“I am so thankful, anyone who knows me knows that I have a very curious mind, I’ve always wanted to get better. I did as a player, I do as a person and I do as a coach.
“What happened behind closed doors was awesome, that didn’t shake me, in fact I welcomed it with a smile on my face — I think the boys were a bit surprised, when we spoke they were expecting a different reaction.
“But the reaction that I gave was, ‘no, that’s great, great feedback. OK, cool, let’s go, that’s great, let’s move forward now. Awesome’.”
It’s been widely speculated Langer’s reign as coach will end next year, but not before the looming Ashes series on home soil.
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