Justin Langer responds to Geoff Lawson saying he ‘plays favourites’

He has been accused of ‘playing favourites’ by former Test paceman Geoff Lawson, but Australian coach Justin Langer says he’s an impartial selector.

Justin Langer decided not to bite back at Geoff Lawson. Picture: AAP

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Justin Langer has refused to be drawn into a slanging match with Geoff Lawson, despite feeling the former Test bowler got “personal” in a stunning attack on his integrity as a selector.

The Australian coach opted to bite his tongue when asked on Tuesday about comments made by Lawson on a Sydney radio station accusing him of “playing favourites”.

Lawson’s stinging take down of the selection process where only two men are currently picking the team (Langer and Trevor Hohns) came after he was unsuccessfully interviewed for the recent vacancy on the panel, which will soon be filled by George Bailey.

According to Lawson, Peter Siddle’s call-up to the Test squad for Boxing Day was an example of Langer “playing favourites”, while he also accused the coach of not watching State cricket.

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Justin Langer decided not to bite back at Geoff Lawson. Picture: AAP

Langer opted not to fire back, but did point to the ODI axing of Marcus Stoinis – a West Australian he has known since the players’ youth – as a fierce defence of his impartial character as coach.

During his tenure, Langer has not been afraid to drop West Australians Mitchell and Shaun Marsh from big tournaments, while he has made other big calls against players he used to coach at the Warriors like Ashton Agar, Ashton Turner, Nathan Coulter-Nile and in recent times Cameron Bancroft.

Langer appeared visibly irritated when Lawson’s comments were put to him at a press conference, repeating the phrase “It’s part of the job” over and over. However, he was ultimately measured in his response.

“It’s part of the job. It’s part of the job. It’s part of the job. And I just take it on the chin,” said Langer.

“It’s not my style to get personal. I’ll just take it on the chin. It’s part of the job unfortunately.

“… Stoin, you talk about favourites. I’ve known Stoin since he was a little kid. These are all hard decisions of course.”

Geoff Lawson criticised Langer’s selection of Peter Siddle (pictured) for the Boxing Day Test. Picture: AAP

Lawson slammed Langer’s role as a selector.

“He’s certainly a Siddle fan, isn’t he?” Lawson said on The Big Sports Breakfast.

“Pattinson was with the group, Neser was there, I’m not sure why you’d be looking outside of those two guys.

“Why are you looking at somebody else, and somebody who hasn’t been getting that many wickets for Victoria in the last few Shield games?

“But Justin Langer has his favourites, unfortunately sometimes he plays them as well.

“That’s one of the problems with having the coach as a selector.

“I have to have a bit of a giggle when I read the selection panel has picked.

“It’s two people. It’s the coach who obviously doesn’t watch state cricket and it’s Trevor Hohns.

Langer says he wasn’t afraid to make hard decisions as a selector, citing his dropping of Marcus Stoinis. Picture: AAP

“So it’s not a selection panel at all, it’s two people and one of them is not watching any State cricket. So it’s quite a limited view of the game.”

Shane Warne has also been fiercely critical of Siddle’s call-up as Josh Hazlewood’s injury replacement, but Langer defended the decision by saying the Victorian is only in the 13-man party as standby, and that both James Pattinson and Michael Neser are ahead of him in the pecking order.

Langer also admitted that Bailey was informally included in the selection of the Australian ODI squad, despite the fact he won’t officially join the panel until he has finished his playing career in the Big Bash.

“Peter Siddle helped us retain the Ashes, he’s got over 200 Test wickets, he’s a ripping person around the team, he lives all our values,” said Langer.

“To add him to the Boxing Day Test match just seemed like a simple solution. I’d imagine a couple of guys would have to get injured between now and Boxing Day (for him to play).”

Originally published as Justin Langer responds to Geoff Lawson saying he ‘plays favourites’