Matthew Hayden defends Justin Langer and fears Cricket Australia’s culture crisis could take it back to the mid-1980s
Test great Matthew Hayden has come out swinging in defence of Justin Langer, saying the Aussie players are the problem, not the coach. Here’s why.
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Test great Matthew Hayden believes any Australian cricketer offended by Justin Langer’s intensity should be thankful they were not born 30 years earlier.
“There is no more sure and centred leader than Justin and if his greatest crime is being intense then ... go and deal with (former Australian coach) Bob Simpson and Allan Border,’’ said Hayden.
The former champion opener is angry at seeing his long-time opener partner Langer under siege as coach of an Australian team containing some players upset by Langer’s tightly wound demeanour.
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“Whenever I get in these situations I channel Border who is the godfather of Australian cricket.
“Border would look at this situation with a furrowed brow and one eyebrow raised and go “just get on with it … you are acting like five-year-olds, the whole lot of you … and it is not helping. Furthermore we have more important things to worry about. Do a whole lot less talking and a whole lot more work and we will get there boys.
“Border’s language might have been unprintable but it would have worked.
“In 1989 Border created a new culture for Australian cricket by getting rid of some prima donnas who wanted to go this way that way and working hard. Justin can bring back that culture if he is listened to.
“Bob and Allan decided in 1989 they were not going to pick talent but culture. It worries me we are heading back to the pre-1989 era.
“What I am hoping is that there is a great deal more unity and embracement of culture so the Aussie spirit is triumphant.
“Could you imagine what would happen if this happened in the Bob Simpson era? You just don’t get picked.’’
Hayden said he felt for Langer being trapped in an era where he was occasionally saddled with weakened teams.
“Justin takes a team to the West Indies, who are a very good T20 side, and Bangladesh, where we also struggled to win many years ago, without seven players and gets personally judged on the results. People say he is grumpy. I wouldn’t be grumpy. I’d be furious.
“It ain’t one man’s fault. I have never seen a coach yet win a game of cricket.
“Generally speaking despite obvious challenges, Australian cricket under Justin Langer has suddenly got some culture and class.’’
“No-one can speak about Justin like I can. I have seen him under the most extreme pressure and there is absolutely no-one you would prefer to have crossing the trenches with you.’’
Hayden believes players should not be able to pick and choose which national tours they go on.
“If you want to play for Australia you play for Australia. That is an absolute non-negotiable. You don’t cherry pick the calendar. You are available for every game.’
Why helping save Aussie cricket may not save Langer
- Peter Lalor
An embattled Justin Langer has been offered support by Cricket Australia’s chief executive officer as a whispering campaign questions his methods, but it may not be enough to reassure the coach or silence his critics.
Cricket bosses are scrambling to deal with the situation which is being monitored by directors and executives as they contemplate whether his contract is renewed next year or if the situation needs to be addressed before this summer’s T20 World Cup and Ashes.
Chief executive Nick Hockley lauded the highly respected former opener’s efforts in rebuilding Australian cricket over the past three years.
“Justin (Langer) has done an incredible job in raising the culture, values and behaviours of the Australian men’s team since he took on the role in 2018,” chief executive Nick Hockley said in a release late Wednesday afternoon.
“His efforts have restored public faith in the national team which is a side all Australian’s can be incredibly proud of.
“He is contracted as Head Coach through to the middle of next year with the focus now on a successful T20 World Cup campaign followed by the home Ashes defence in what is one of the most anticipated Series and summers of cricket in Australia for many years.
“Like many in the community and around the world the team has had an extremely disruptive and challenging 18 months during the pandemic. Despite those challenges the side has had great success in One-Day, Test and T20 cricket, when all players were available.
“Justin, his coaching staff and the leaders within the team have an equally important part to play in ensuring a successful summer ahead for the Australian cricket team.”
Earlier in the week Langer’s former teammate Adam Gilchrist demanded the organisation make a call on the issue or it would “derail the summer”.
The coach and the white ball squad from the recent tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies are in a hard quarantine in Adelaide after an agreement to let them isolate and train was torn up at the last minute by that state government.
Langer was asked to rebuild Australian cricket in the wake of the sandpaper scandal and a damning culture review.
Tasked initially with leading a side whose most senior leaders were suspended, he set about rebuilding the team’s values and reputation. The Test side retained the Ashes in England for the first time since 2001 but more recently lost a home series to India.
An undermanned white ball squad put in poor performances in recent T20 series but had the excuse of at least half a dozen players missing.
Passionate but moody and given to an old-school approach, Langer’s methods are confronting to modern players.
Things came to a head after a difficult 2020-21 summer where the side performed badly on the field and found the hot breath of the coach on their neck difficult to deal with as biosecurity arrangements allowed for little release.
White ball captain Aaron Finch said mid-year that Langer had been confronted by player feedback and resolved to address issues, including delegating to assistants.
Players reported the coach was calm and inclusive on the most recent tour but his minor involvement in a heated clash between team manager Gavin Dovey and a reporter working for Cricket Australia has been interpreted as further evidence he had not changed.
Finch, who left the recent tour early to have an operation on his knee, said it was disappointing that leaks kept occurring and said the issues were common when side’s lose.
“There’s always tension when results don’t go your way in all sports,” Finch told SEN’s Whateley.
“Wins and losses are what counts. I think any time that doesn’t happen, that will get amplified.
“It’s just one of those things. It’s disappointing that things are coming to the front the way that they are, that’s never ideal.
“It’s one of those things that will keep popping up, which is disappointing.”
Langer’s reputation is being questioned in public with little support from anyone around him apart from his friends.
The issue threatens to drag on into the World Cup and the Ashes unless emphatically addressed or will become fodder for England’s team and media who will feed on any suggestion of unrest in the opposition camp.
The Test side has not been in the same room since last summer and has only played four games together in the best part of two years.
Former captain Ian Chappell called on captain Tim Paine to have a truth and honesty session with players, although that was essentially what happened remotely after the India series.
“Tim Paine is the only one who can sort it out before the Ashes,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“He‘s the one who’s got to call a meeting, acknowledge there’s a problem and sort it out. Throw the meeting open, everyone says what they want to say, and you’ve got to convince them that whatever is said won’t be held against them, and it has to stay in-house.
“Tim calling a meeting is the only way to resolve it but he‘s probably left it a bit late to take charge.”
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