Pat Cummins Denies Allegations Of Australian Players Involvement In Justin Langer’s Exit

Feb 25, 2022 at 5:43 PM

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Pat Cummins Denies Allegations Of Australian Players Involvement In Justin Langer’s Exit

Justin Langer’s exit as Australia’s head coach last month didn’t go down well with several members of the cricket fraternity, who wanted the former opener to continue in the role.

Even Test skipper Pat Cummins also came under the scanner as he didn’t endorse Justin Langer’s contract extension publicly. Notably, many prominent figures in Australian cricket, mostly Justin Langer’s former teammates, had claimed that players had a role in the southpaw’s departure.

Justin Langer. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Justin Langer. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Pat Cummins Denies Being Decision Maker To Remove Justin Langer As Head Coach

However, Pat Cummins has denied those allegations, explaining none of the players had the authority to take such major decisions. The top-ranked Test bowler also asserted that his priority is to do what’s best for Australian cricket. While he did admit players gave their feedback, he denied any player’s involvement in the decision-making.

“It was okay, I felt for Justin as much as anyone else, but I knew when I became captain I was going to cop it for different things. If anything, it kind of reminded me I’ve got to look after the team and do what’s best for Australian cricket. All the noise and things that might come with it come from a good place, but I can’t let it affect me too much,” Pat Cummins said.

Pat Cummins Credit: AAP
Pat Cummins Credit: AAP

“Certainly our feedback was heard, as I think it should be. But to say that we are decision-makers is quite far from the truth. It’s a high-performance set-up, there’s the board that makes decisions, so of course, people within the environment get consulted, which includes senior players, staff members, which I think has always been the case. I think that’s the right way to do things, it’s healthy. Nothing untoward, for sure” Pat Cummins said.

Justin Langer left after a nearly four-year reign that was widely seen as instilling integrity and discipline in a team that had been disgraced by a ball-tampering scandal against South Africa in 2018.

Australia made giant progress under the coaching of Justin Langer as they retained the Ashes in England for the first time in 18 years when they drew the series by 2-2 in 2019. Last year Australia also won their maiden 2021 T20I World Cup title, beating New Zealand in the final. His tenure culminated in a 4-0 beating of England in the Ashes 2021/22 series that ended recently.

Justin Langer’s contract as Australia’s head coach was set to expire in June 2022 but after a lengthy meeting with Cricket Australia, he decided to resign from his role with immediate effect. Cricket Australia offered him a short-term extension which he denied so both parties decided to part ways.

Pat Cummins Thinks Andrew McDonald Is Capable Of Being Full-Time Coach

Meanwhile, former all-rounder Andrew McDonald is Australia’s interim head coach for the time being and he’ll serve the team in the upcoming historic tour of Pakistan. Speaking of his appointment, Pat Cummins didn’t mind saying the 40-year-old is good enough for the full-time role.

“I think he’s certainly capable (of being full-time coach). (It’s) certainly not my decision, I think they’ll run a process probably after this series, so we’ll see how he goes,” he added.

Andrew McDonald Getty Images
Andrew McDonald Getty Images

Andrew McDonald will be on board the flight along with the Australian team on their historic tour of Pakistan next month, the first time they are travelling to the Asian country since 1998. Australia will play as many as 3 Tests, as many ODIs, and a lone T20I across Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore in March-April.

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