Former Australia coach Justin Langer on Wednesday hit out on the nameless “cowards” who leaked towards him within the lead-up to his resignation whereas admitting he ought to have cultivated a greater relationship with the game’s governing physique.
The 52-year-old walked away from his job in February after failing to safe the general public help of key gamers and following acrimonious contract talks with Cricket Australia.
He was sad at being provided solely a six-month extension regardless of steering Australia to a 4-0 Ashes victory over England in 2021 after which to Twenty20 World Cup glory the identical yr.
In the run-up to his departure, disgruntled gamers complained anonymously to Australian media about his intense “headmaster-like” teaching type, one thing he nonetheless bristles about.
Cowardly behaviour
“Everyone was being nice to my face, but I was reading about this stuff, and half of it … I could not believe that is what was making the papers,” he informed Code Sports.
“A lot of journalists use the word ‘source’. I would say, change that word to ‘coward’. A coward says, not a source.
“Because what do you mean ‘a source says’? They’ve either got an axe to grind with someone and won’t come and say it to your face, or they’re just leaking stuff for their agenda.”
Langer took the job in 2018 with Australian cricket at its lowest ebb for many years within the wake of a dishonest affair and was credited with restoring delight within the beloved dishevelled inexperienced cap.
But grumblings about his micromanaging started to floor about 12 months out from his eventual sacking.
Biggest remorse
Langer, who will commentate on TV through the Australian Test summer season that begins towards the West Indies subsequent week, insisted he listened and improved his methods however was nonetheless compelled out.
“The hardest thing for me of all of it was: I got the feedback (and) I did something about it,” he stated.
“We won the T20 World Cup, we won the Ashes. We were number one in the world. I’ve never enjoyed coaching more, and I’ve still got sacked. That’s the hardest thing.”
Langer stated his largest remorse was his lack of relationship with Cricket Australia’s board.
“I talked to the Cricket Australia board three times in four years. That’s craziness. And that’s the only thing I’d do differently,” he stated.
“Because when you know people haven’t got your back, there is no lonelier place in the world. When you do know people have got your back, there’s no more powerful place in the world. And that’s what I would have done differently.”