Former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy doesn’t understand why Cricket Australia is taking so long to renew Justin Langer’s contract. He stated that they would look stupid if they sack him under these circumstances. Justin Langer’s contract is set to expire in June this year as there are speculations and rumours floating around if he gets an extension.
Australia made giant progress in the last 4 years under the coaching of Justin Langer as they had won an Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001. Also, they won their maiden T20 World Cup last year when they beat New Zealand in the final in Dubai. Again in the Ashes 2021-22, they comprehensively beat England by 4-0.
“The coach is nowhere near as important as any major player� You can change the coach much easier than you can change a senior player. (However), the game is going to look stupid if they sack Justin Langer, but I don’t think they’ll sack him,” Ian Healy spoke on SEN’s Pat and Heals show.
“There’s going to have to be some big explanations from senior players if Justin Langer’s contract doesn’t get renewed”- Ian Healy
“They might manage him out by giving him two years and he wants more, he’s probably informed them of what he wants. He might be playing that side, (saying) he wants four years, and they (Cricket Australia) are saying, ‘You can’t have four years, we’ll give you two and now we’ve bumped it up to three, will you accept that?’ There might be a stalemate on those fronts, but let’s see what the reasons are,” he added.
Healy who played 23 Tests and 4 ODIs alongside Justin Langer also hit out at Australia’s senior players who haven’t spoken a word in support of the coach. Healy believes that the players will have to do lots of explaining if a new coach is appointed.
“Gee, there’s going to have to be some big explanations from Pat Cummins, from Aaron Finch, from Steve Smith, and these senior players who have voiced their feelings. I don’t know which way, but it seems like they’re not on board, or they weren’t, but from all reports, they got on board and they got winning again. So, cricket will look stupid, the powerbrokers will look stupid that means.” said Ian Healy who represented Australia in 119 Tests and 168 ODIs.
Justin Langer took over the role from Darren Lehmann after the famous Sandpaper Gate happened in March 2018 when David Warner and Steve Smith were banned for one year while the youngster Cameron Bancroft was banned for 9 months.
Langer has been given a break during the T20 series against Sri Lanka starting on February 11 however he will take the charge back when Australia will tour Pakistan in March-April.
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