Cricket news: Pat Cummins welcomes Justin Langer’s ‘coward’ clarification

Test captain Pat Cummins made his feelings on Justin Langer’s controversial comments crystal clear ahead of the first Test in Perth.

Pat Cummins has declared “there are no cowards in the Australian cricket team”, expressing disappointment at Justin Langer’s explosive podcast comments on the eve of the first Test.

Cummins used his pre-match press conference in Perth to strongly defend the character of his dressing room and made it clear he didn’t approve of his former coach deciding to air the nature of private conversations he’d shared with he and Aaron Finch.

Australia has locked in a full-strength XI to open the summer powered by fast bowling weapons Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who is on 287 Test wickets and hunting a rare place in Test cricket’s 300 club.

The West Indies are also expected to unleash speed demons Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales and Kemar Roach on a pitch covered by a spicy layering of 12mm of grass, while son of a gun Tagenarine Chanderpaul will continue the legacy of his father Shivnarine by opening the batting.

The most controversial part of Langer’s podcast commentary last week centred on a line where he stated that he would change the word “source” to “coward” to describe anyone who went behind his back to leak to newspapers.

Langer clarified in a later interview with Channel 7 that he was not referring to players when he used the word “cowards”.

It was an explanation Cummins said was necessary as he made his feelings on Langer’s comments crystal clear.

“There’s no cowards in the Australian cricket team, not ever,” said Cummins on Tuesday.

Pat Cummins (L) bristled at Justin Langer’s talk of cowards in the Australian dressing room. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“I thank Justin for I guess clarifying his remarks afterwards.

“I think he had a think about it and clarified it, so thank him for that.

“But we’re really proud of the last 12 months, how we’ve fronted up, the way we’ve played, the way we’ve conducted ourselves.

“Players can certainly hold their heads high.”

Cummins was respectful of his former coach and said he was looking forward to seeing Langer at a Test where he has a grandstand named after him.

But Cummins did not appreciate the disclosure of what he thought were private conversations or the timing of them, with the podcast released in the week of the Test.

“I’d probably never disclose private conversations, but you’d have to ask Justin,” said Cummins.

“I think there’s no ill will to what he was trying to do and he clarified afterwards.

“We always like to talk about the cricket.

“I feel like there’s so many good things going on at the moment, especially this Test team number one in the world and had a fantastic 12 months.

“Coming over here to play the first Test match in Perth for a few years, there’s so many good stories around the week.

“I think it’s disappointing sometimes the focus gets drawn to off-field issues but it hasn’t really affected our team.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him as well. He’ll be in and around here commentating so it’ll be good.”

The relationship between Pat Cummins and Justin Langer is strained. Picture: Hamish Blair / AFP

Cummins confirmed Australia’s XI for the first Test against the West Indies would be full strength and as expected, with Scott Boland and Marcus Harris the two squad members to miss out.

Starc set the agenda for Australia’s fast bowlers last summer and Cummins believes it’s possible the big left-armer could knock over the 13 wickets he needs to bring up his 300 in the two Tests against the Windies on a hooping Perth deck and a pink ball game in Adelaide.

“Hopefully. He’s a star to take 300 wickets,” said Cummins.

“It is the reason why not many have done it. You have to have longevity, you have to do it around the world in different conditions.

“Mitchy, last summer was almost a breakout summer the way he bowled. He went to another level.

“He will be tricky over here with pace, bounce and we know how good he is with the pink ball. It’s a big summer ahead for him.”

Originally published as Cricket news: Pat Cummins welcomes Justin Langer’s ‘coward’ clarification