Australia’s Pat Cummins celebrates during a match against England in the 2019 Ashes, in London. File photograph: Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Australia’s Pat Cummins celebrates during a match against England in the 2019 Ashes, in London. File photograph: Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Former Australia speedster Mitchell Johnson has slammed Australia Test captain Pat Cummins over what happened with Justin Langer. Notable that Justin Langer stepped down from the role of Australia’s head coach as he wasn’t offered a long-term extension despite his successful tenure in his 4-year stint.

Under his coaching stint, Australia won their maiden T20 World Cup last year. Also, Australia won the Ashes with a comprehensive margin of 4-0. Despite that, Cricket Australia didn’t offer him a long-term extension so he parted ways with the team with an immediate effect.

Pat Cummins Credit: AAP
Pat Cummins Credit: AAP

However, the former Australian players are not happy with the way he was treated in the whole saga. Former pacer Mitchell Johnson also joined the bandwagon as he hit out newly appointed Pat Cummins for his lack of support for the coach.

“Pat Cummins has been lauded as some type of cricketing saint since his elevation to the top job this summer. Cummins might have delivered with the ball during the Ashes series, but he has failed his first big test as captain pretty miserably,” Mitchell Johnson wrote in his column for the West Australian.

Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson (File pic)

“Pat Cummins might have delivered with the ball, but he has failed as captain pretty miserably”- Mitchell Johnson

“He had plenty of public opportunities to endorse an extension for Langer. So when he let it through to the keeper every time, it became pretty obvious he didn’t want it to happen,” he added.

Johnson believes that despite captaining for just one series, Pat Cummins holds a lot of power in Australian cricket. In most of his interviews, Cummins maintained that Cricket Australia has every right to review Langer’s performance. Cummins finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Ashes 2021-22 with 21 scalps.

“Cummins holds a lot of power and must have been central to what’s happened. He’s clearly had an agenda to get in a coach he wants. His recent interviews have been gutless by not respecting his coach when he could have been upfront from the start.” Johnson stated.

“The baggy green is hyped as the most revered symbol in Australian sport. But what does it stand for now? In the wake of the disgraceful white-anting of Langer as a coach, which led to his resignation on Saturday, it stands for selfishness,” he added.

Australia is set to travel to Pakistan in March-April for a series of 3 Tests, 3 ODIs, and one T20I. Andrew McDonald has been appointed an interim head coach for the tour.

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