Australian captain Pat Cummins explains his role in Justin Langer’s resignation

The player power movement has been a hot topic since the departure of Justin Langer though Pat Cummins has rejected claims the players ambushed their vanquished coach.

Australia Coach Justin Langer celebrates with bowler Pat Cummins

PAT Cummins is adamant players did not ambush Justin Langer and believes he still shares a good relationship with his vanquished coach.

A gracious but forthright Australian captain claimed Langer should not be surprised by the player feedback which ultimately sealed his fate, because those sentiments had been consistently communicated to him over the past two years.

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Ultimately Cummins admits the players and Langer reached a stalemate on what they wanted in a coach that not even World Cup and Ashes trophies could fix, and is adamant a parting of ways was necessary.

“… It’s a difference of opinions and if you can’t resolve those differences in opinions, unfortunately you need change,” said Cummins.

“That’s happened.

Pat Cummins says Justin Langer should not be suprised by what transpired. Picture: Getty Images

“… I’d say I don’t think he should be surprised by it. It’s been two years of evaluations. In our environment at Cricket Australia, it’s probably pretty boring but we get 360 reviews all the time.

“We get our strengths and weaknesses (spelt out to us) … I think it’s become more public for him the last week or two but I don’t think there’s anything surprising.

“We felt … the players will benefit from a more collaborative approach. A big theme for the summer has been keeping more calm, more composed and that’s been really clear in the feedback from players, support staff and Cricket Australia and that’s the direction we want to take the team.

“… Some of these skillsets are a little bit different to perhaps (Langer’s) traditional coaching style.”

At a crisis meeting last August, Langer heeded an ultimatum that he must take more of a backseat, and it yielded a historic T20 World Cup triumph and an Ashes hammering that has cost the England coach his job and potentially ended the careers of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Ex-greats have vehemently argued that rampant success should have secured him a long-term extension.

But perhaps Cummins most revelatory point was that the players didn’t feel the changes Langer had made to his coaching style were sustainable.

“That (crisis meeting) was one review, but we’ve been running reviews for a couple of years really and that was one of them,” said Cummins.

Cummins and the players didn’t believe Langer could sustain the changes he made to his coaching outlook. Picture: Getty Images

“I think he tweaked and changed a lot and was brilliant since then, I really do. He made some big changes and deserved a lot of credit for that.

“I guess the question after the success of the last couple of months became, ‘do we think it’s sustainable?’

“And again it’s probably a matter of opinion, but we thought it was the right time to make a change.”

Cummins refuted assertions player power had got out of control.

“We’re all professionals here. So if we didn’t get the coach we wanted, that’s fine, we’d keep playing, there’s no stress,” he said.

Cummins said he has exchanged text messages with Langer, who is in quarantine in Perth, thanking him for what he did for his career.

And while he accepts Langer deserved better than the public saga that has played out, he refused to back down from his belief that the “brave” decision by Cricket Australia to move on a coach in winning times was the right one.

“Of course, I think especially JL, he felt at the end of it, he hasn’t been fairly treated. That’s not on. And I hope we can learn from that,” said Cummins.

“We’ve had a few messages the last few days and we’re all good. From my point of view, I’ve just got huge respect for the man.

“I love what he’s done. I owe him a lot. He’s been brilliant. Not only for this team but me individually. He’s given me a lot of opportunities and backed me in a lot.

“That’s more or less what I passed onto him and … hopefully we can catch up soon and talk about it.

“He’s someone I’m sure in the future I’ll keep leaning on because he gives a lot.”

Cummins: Langer shouldn’t be surprised by feedback

A gracious but forthright Australian captain Pat Cummins says Justin Langer should not be surprised by the player feedback that ultimately sealed his fate.

Cummins said the game needed to learn from the fact Langer has been hurt by the public playing-out of his demise over recent weeks, but didn’t back down from his belief the team needed a change in direction.

Ex-greats have erupted at the treatment of their former teammate Langer in the wake of Australia’s World Cup and Ashes triumphs, but Cummins declared there was no ambush and that the feedback given to Cricket Australia about the coach’s style had been consistent for two years.

“It’s difficult. Really difficult. I think being in a public role is always going to come with some commentary and scrutiny around the coaches,” said Cummins.

“I know Cricket Australia wanted to run a thorough process and give it its due course.

“Of course, I think especially JL, he felt at the end of it, he hasn’t been fairly treated. That’s not on. And I hope we can learn from that.

“I’d say I don’t think he should be surprised by it. It’s been two years of evaluations. In our environment at Cricket Australia, it’s probably pretty boring but we get 360 reviews all the time.

Pat Cummins fronts the media for the first time since Justin Langer’s exit. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty

“We get our strengths and weaknesses (spelt out to us) … I think it’s become more public for him the last week or two but I don’t think there’s anything surprising.”

Cummins denied assertions that Langer’s intensity turned players off.

However, he admitted the playing group queried whether changes Langer made to his coaching style following a crisis meeting before last year’s World Cup could be sustained long-term and there was a consensus that his style wasn’t well suited to the more collaborative approach players were after.

Cummins described it as a difference in opinion that couldn’t be resolved.

READ AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN PAT CUMMINS’ FULL STATEMENT BELOW

“There’s so many positives to what JL has brought to the table. He was the perfect man for the times, he did a fantastic job, absolutely loved working with him, thought he was brilliant,” said Cummins.

“Some of these skillsets are a little bit different to perhaps his traditional coaching style. And I think he’s tweaked his coaching style the last six months – he did a really, really good job.

“But we think now is the right time for a different direction and it’s a matter of opinion but we think it’s the right one.”

Cummins said he had spoken to Langer over recent days and believes they share a good relationship.

The captain maintained Langer was the right man for the crisis Australia confronted after sandpapergate, but not for the future direction of the team.

Langer and Cummins after the Ashes. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

“We’ve been really well schooled the last four years by JL in how to conduct ourselves. We were really thankful for that the last four years. He was brilliant. He was what we needed. He’s made us better people, better players because of it,” said Cummins.

“And now, I think we’re really well versed in what that is. We know when we pull on the baggy green what that means, how we need to conduct ourselves.

“We absolutely don’t want to lose sight of that. I guess for us it’s making sure we uphold those standards. But in terms of the coaching style and where we want to take this team, we think a slightly different style is needed.”

Moments before breaking his silence to the press, Cummins released a length statement addressing several issues including why Australia needed a new coach, while also delivering a message to past players.

“There has been much public comment since Justin Langer’s resignation as the Coach of the Australian Cricket team,” Cummins said.

“For good reason, I haven’t made public comment before today.

“To speak about a decision, which was yet to be made and which is for Cricket Australia to make, would have put Cricket Australia and the team in an impossible position.

“I’d never do that.

“I believe in respecting the sanctity of the change room and proper process.

“Now that a decision has been made by Justin to resign and given his own public comments and others by Cricket Australia, I can provide some clarity.

“Justin has acknowledged that his style was intense. And it was.

“He has apologised to players and staff for his intensity.

“I think the apology was unnecessary.

“Because the players were OK with JL’s intensity.

“It came from a good place – his fierce love of Australia and the baggy green – something which has served Australian cricket well for three decades.

“It’s what makes him a legend of the sport.

“And Justin’s intensity drove a better team culture and higher team standards.

“These are significant Justin Langer legacies.

“And on behalf of the players, I thank Justin.

“More than that, we owe him a lot and Justin will be a welcome face in the change room in the future.

“So, his intensity was not the issue for the players and the support staff.

“The question is: what is the best style of coaching for the future, given how the team has evolved?

Australia Coach Justin Langer celebrates with bowler Pat Cummins

“We have been very well schooled in how to play cricket in the right way – in the correct Australian way.

“We understand the importance of always playing to the highest ethical standards.

“And the players need no motivation as I’ve never played with more motivated cricketers.

“To be better players for Australia, from this solid foundation, we need a new style of coaching and skill set.

“This was the feedback the players gave to Cricket Australia. And it’s the feedback I understand support staff also gave.

“We welcome that Cricket Australia invited the players and staff to contribute to CA’s evaluation.

“I add that as professional sportspeople we would have accepted any decision CA were to make because that’s what professionals do.

“CA have made a brave call to transition, given the team has been winning.

“Finally, we are custodians of cricket, with one very big thing in common: our first duty is to Australian cricket, which is bigger than any one of us.

“I take this responsibility seriously. I live and breathe it.

“We also have a duty to our mates.

“Many former players have reached out to me and silently offered me their advice which is welcome.

“Some others have spoken in the media – which is also welcome and comes from a love of the game and their support of a mate.

“To all past players, I want to say this:

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

“I’m looking forward to speaking with the media today before training.”