Cummins: Aussie skipper responds to Mitch Johnson’s critisim

‘Gutless’, that’s the term Mitch Johnson smeared across the media in definition of Pat Cummins. Here is the Aussie skipper’s response to the savage criticism.

The CA board has declined to reveal whether Justin Langer’s contract call was unanimous.

Australia golden boy Pat Cummins says it has not weighed on him to be targeted as a lightning rod for the first time in his career – and is not losing sleep over a personal attack from Mitchell Johnson.

Tennis No.1 Ash Barty would be Cummins’ only rival as the most universally admired and loved Australian athlete of his generation, but in the wake of Langer’s demise, the Test captain has found himself in the unprecedented position of being put under a searing microscope.

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The most savage of the criticism was delivered by fellow fast bowler and World Cup winning brother-in-arms Johnson – who labelled him “gutless” – but Cummins is adamant the backlash has not knocked him off his saddle.

“I actually haven’t really had much of it (criticism) before so it’s actually been good to get it out of the way early in the captaincy,” Cummins said tongue in cheek.

Pat Cummins chuckled when asked about Mitch Johnson. Picture: Getty Images

“I knew when I took on the job it was going to come with added scrutiny so the last week has been good to know that I’ll cop it – but I’m absolutely fine with it.

“I know a lot of it has come from the right place, we all want to do what’s best for Australian cricket.”

Cummins said Johnson is yet to speak to him in the wake of his withering newspaper column for The West Australian newspaper last Sunday where the fast bowling great slammed the skipper’s role in Langer’s downfall.

“Yeah I know, I can’t believe a fast bowler’s having a go at me,” said Cummins.

“Look, he’s just standing up for his mates. I absolutely disagree with what he said. No he hasn’t reached out.

“But that’s fine. He’s entitled to his opinion, he’s standing up for his mate, but I can hold my head up high so I’m fine.”

Cummins included a poignant line in a statement he issued prior to his press conference on Wednesday – designed at making emotional players understand his role in the Langer exit and his motivations for having a voice.

“To all past players, I want to say this,” wrote Cummins.

“Just as you have always stuck up for your mates, I’m sticking up for mine.”

Pat Cummins faces the media for the first time since Justin Langer resigned. Picture: Getty Images

In his press conference, Cummins explained what that meant to him, after a week in which the all-time greats of the sport including Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor have led a barrage of condemnation of player power, the game and how it’s being run.

“My responsibility as captain is to my teammates. To the environment and to Australian cricket,” said Cummins.

“So as part of the feedback process, I canvass as many thoughts as I could and I know being captain that carries a bit more weight and a bit more voice than perhaps others do.

“I’m sticking up for them making sure they’re heard, and I hope in some regards I’m keeping the sanctity of the change room and not over stepping my mark.

“There’s been a lot of emotion flying around. I think added to the feedback you’ve got to take it in that kind of context. They’re all people I really respect so I listen to them for sure, and I’d welcome chatting to any of them directly about feedback and thoughts I have.

“We’re custodians of the Australian cricket team. It’s not forever and we just want to do what’s best and me as captain I want to do what’s best for Australian cricket, what’s best for this team.

“That’s the responsibility I’ve been given and I take that really seriously.

“… The (current) XI players, they’re the guys who are out on there on the field, so absolutely I think it’s fair we get a say.”

Legend slams ‘Langer PR machine’, Cummins criticism

Australian selector George Bailey has called on ex-players to reach out to the inner sanctum for a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding Justin Langer’s exit.

It comes as Test captaincy icon Ian Chappell took aim at the “Justin Langer PR machine” and slammed the criticism that has come in for new skipper Pat Cummins over his role in the dramatic coach change.

Bailey revealed he was one of the staff members consulted by CA chief executive Nick Hockley who ultimately decided Langer needed to be transitioned out as Australian men’s coach for team “unity.”

An army of the game’s most high profile ex-greats have erupted in a firestorm of criticism over the handling of Langer’s ousting, with Mitchell Johnson’s savaging of Cummins as “gutless” the ugly low point of the emotional reaction.

Bailey lauded Langer for his central role in resurrecting the reputation of Australian cricket, but indicated some of the former greats who have commented on his departure do not have the full picture of why change was sought.

“I get that … there’s a number of ex-players who are working in the media and that’s part of their role is to have strong opinions,” said Bailey.

Test captain icon Ian Chappell. Hollie Adams/The Australian

“The other thing is that it’s hard as a past player to keep your finger completely on the pulse of what’s going on within the team.

“So a lot of their opinions can be based on hearsay and second and third hand information.

“I always encourage those players to reach out and get a good understanding of what’s happening.

“To be perfectly honest I don’t know if there has been any fallout in that relationship (Johnson and Cummins). I don’t know if Pat has read it, or has taken any notice of it.”

Bailey said he had left a voicemail with Langer and exchanged texts and said he “feels for him.”

“Absolutely no one deserves to have the saga that has been played out as publicly as it has been,” said Bailey.

Former Australia coach Justin Langer (L) with Pat Cummins. Picture: Visionhaus

“He didn’t get the length of contract extension he was after and it hasn’t been ideal. I don’t subscribe to the fact that it was individuals that were key to making the decision.”

Cummins is one of the individuals having the finger pointed at him, but Chappell said the commentary around Langer’s departure has been ridiculous and unfair on the Test captain.

“… What annoys me is two things – the fact Pat Cummins, who has probably been as honest as you can be in this sort of thing, that he’s copped a bit of a pasting … and the Justin Langer PR machine has been at work, and in a lot of cases that’s been believed,” Chappell told Channel Nine.

“… within reason, I think the captain has got to get the coach that he gets on with, and works well with.

“I just don’t understand why a captain isn’t going to have any input into the coach. Why, for instance, do you appoint a new captain and then he’s got to have the previous coach? He doesn’t get any say in it, well that’s bullocks in my opinion.

“Pat Cummins will know a lot more about cricket than the (administrators) at Cricket Australia on the board. Pat Cummins would know more about cricket than most.”

One of the most common explanations of why players have fallen foul of Langer over the past 12 months has been his intensity, but Bailey said that wasn’t the case.

“I did see that … in JL’s (resignation) letter that he apologised for being too intense. I don’t think that’s something he had to apologise for,” said Bailey.

“… I don’t think he was too intense. I don’t think any two cricket teams are the same in terms of the communication that it needs.

“… where the team might be at in terms of its journey, evolution whatever you want to call it is constantly shifting and the way you communicate and work with that team is constantly shifting as well.

“The group, the individuals, all three teams are in a very different space to where they were four years ago and JL absolutely has to take an enormous amount of credit for that and I hope he’s immensely proud of it.”

CA board breaks silence over Langer exit

Cricket Australia director Mike Baird has declined to comment on whether the board unanimously voted to oust Justin Langer, but said the decision was made by chief executive Nick Hockley.

The former NSW Premier has become the first CA director to break their silence on the organisation’s call to transition away from a coach who had just won a World Cup and Ashes and been inducted into cricket’s hall of fame.

In a radio interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham, Baird distanced the board from any direct discussions over dressing room dissatisfaction with Langer, but revealed that not only players, but team staff had been consulted in the ultimate decision made by Hockley to phase him out as coach.

Baird lauded Langer’s achievements as a player, but made the point, “that doesn’t mean it necessarily translated into a coach.”

Cricket Australia board member Mike Baird.

CA chief executive Nick Hockley.

Although Baird did acknowledge Langer has achieved “some success” as coach and in transforming cultural issues after sandpapergate, and appraised he had done a “good job.”

The CA board had to sign off on the call, but Baird said Hockley made the decision the coach shouldn’t be offered a long-term extension.

“The CEO has obviously run a process, it’s not about the last four years, it’s about the next four years and he’s made a decision considering all stakeholders. Yes, team, also staff and a whole range of other people and made a decision that it is time to transition, which happens in sport,” Baird told Fordham.

“I wasn’t … involved in all the discussions but I think it is disappointing what’s played out (reaction from ex-players). It shouldn’t diminish who Justin Langer is and what he’s achieved in Australian cricket.

Justin Langer stepped down as coach on Saturday.

“There’s a new team, a new coach that will be coming. In every way we should be thankful to Justin Langer, but obviously the decision of the CEO, consulting multiple opinions was it was time to transition.

“Obviously he (Hockley) was hopeful that Justin would transition for an additional period. “He’s decided to leave and of course you respect that. I’ve got nothing but respect and thanks for the incredible memories of Justin Langer.”

There’s been whispers circulating that high performance boss Ben Oliver had recommended Langer should be given a longer-term deal than the six-month extension ultimately offered. Hockley said in his press conference on Saturday that he and Oliver had come to a consensus and the board had unanimously accepted the proposal made by them.

“Ben and I have obviously spent a long time working through and discussing. It has been a difficult decision and it was a very lengthy discussion at the board,” said Hockley.

“But ultimately there was a consensus that this was the right way forward and the board was unanimous in endorsing the approach.”

The CA board has declined to reveal whether Justin Langer’s contract call was unanimous.

Baird declined to comment when asked by Fordham if the board was unanimous, but didn’t back away from the decision made.

“I’m not going to talk about the board meeting and I think my comments stand,” said Baird.

“I am very appreciative of who Justin Langer is, what he’s achieved. Obviously cricket’s taken a decision for the next four years to move to a new coach.”

Baird lauded Langer’s achievements in the sport but said playing attributes don’t always translate to coaching.

“Justin Langer was an incredible Australian, he proved himself on the cricket field in ways that inspired a generation, me included,” said Baird.

“I think all of us have that position. That doesn’t mean it necessarily translated into a coach.

“Clearly he had some success, clearly the four years he has overseen has been not just success, but a transformation of some of the cultural challenges. He’s done a good job.”

Originally published as Cummins: Aussie skipper responds to Mitch Johnson’s critisim