Former Australian cricket coach Justin Langer used a speech on Wednesday afternoon to criticise Cricket Australia’s dismissive attitude towards former greats of the game, while also pouring cold water on the idea of ever coaching England.
Serving as the keynote speaker at a Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA event titled ‘Reset 2022’, Langer recalled a conversation with then-interim CA chair Richard Freudenstein shortly after he had parted ways with the national team.
“The first thing he [Freudenstein] said to me was, ‘It must make you feel so good that all your mates are supporting you in the media,'” Langer told the crowd in Perth.
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Multiple former teammates – and legends of the game – had come to Langer’s defence during the coaching saga.
“I said, ‘Yeah it is, acting chairman, but with all due respect, those mates are also the all-time greats of Australian cricket,” the former coach said.
“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’.”
After coming into the job in 2018 following Darren Lehmann’s resignation due to the ball tampering scandal, Langer said the final months had been among his best time as coach, even when you factored in the ongoing discourse about his future.
“Ironically, the last six months of my coaching career were the most enjoyable period of 12 years of coaching,” he said.
“Not only did we win everything, but I had energy, and I had focus, and I was happy — besides the bullshit politics.”
The 51-year-old also scoffed at the idea of coaching the old enemy – a post he was repeatedly linked to in the immediate aftermath of his departure from Australia.
Langer said he had “never spoken to English cricket”, barely being able to stomach the idea of coaching them.
“The thought of coaching England … mate!” he said.
Australia made Langer’s temporary replacement, Andrew McDonald, the permanent coach last month, signing a four-year deal.
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