Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has lauded Australia Test captain Pat Cummins’s leadership qualities as he handled the whole Justin Langer saga. Notable that Justin Langer stepped down from his role as Australia head coach after working 4 years with the team.
Reportedly Cricket Australia offered him a short-term extension which Langer denied as he expected a longer extension with the kind of results he produced with the team. Many Australian ex-players hit out Pat Cummins for not showing any support. Former Mitchell Johnson called him a ‘gutless’ captain while Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne called it a sad day for Australian cricket when Justin Langer resigned from his position.
“I am super excited for the Australian team with Pat Cummins leading the charge”
But Shane Watson backed Cummins for his stance. He stated that he was in a no-win situation.
“For me, he is the ultimate. He was in a no-win situation leading up to Justin Langer handing in his resignation because if he commented either way it was not going to look good,” Watson said on ‘The ICC Review’.
“The way he handled it after it had settled down and Justin Langer had resigned, he has handled it all so well because he is so personable, very honest, and very endearing to the public and to his teammates,” said Watson of Cummins.
Notable that Pat Cummins hit out at all ex-Australian players for targeting him over the matter.
“To all past players, I want to say this: Just as you have always stuck up for your mates, I’m sticking up for mine,” Pat Cummins released a statement.
Cummins was appointed as test captain right before the Ashes when Tim Paine was sidelined over a sexting scandal. In his first assignment as captain, Australia comprehensively beat England by 4-0 in the Ashes. Watson said that he is excited to watch this Australian side under Pat Cummins.
“I am super excited for the Australian team with Pat leading the charge and the next phase of Australian cricket because they have certainly got the talent and the leadership to be able to take it forward,” said Watson.
Australia is set to tour Pakistan for a series of 3 Tests, 3 ODIs, and one T20I.